European Commission recommends lifting ban on Lankan fisheries exports to EU

The European Commission today decided to recommend the lifting of the ban on fisheries exports from Sri Lanka to the European Union (EU), a official release said. Today’s recommendation will be discussed by the European Union (EU) Fisheries Council at the next available opportunity. 

“If the Council agrees with the proposal, the ban will be lifted with immediate effect,” te EU said.

The European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, said that Sri Lanka has now a robust legal and policy framework to fight illegal fishing activities. 

“As the fight against IUU fishing is part of the EU's commitment towards sustainability and good ocean governance, each third country that comes on board is an asset.” he said.

Sri Lanka was issued with a yellow card in 2012 and listed by the Council in February 2015. This was the result of a long standing failure to address serious shortcomings in the implementation of control measures, a lack of deterrent sanctions, as well as the failure to comply with international and regional fisheries rules.

Sri Lanka has subsequently amended its legal framework, strengthened sanctions and improved its fleet control. With today's decision Sri Lanka joins the growing list of countries (Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Korea, the Philippines, Fiji, Belize, Panama, Togo and Vanuatu) that have reformed their systems, following action by the EU. 

Sri Lanka was previously the second biggest exporter of fresh and chilled swordfish and tuna to the EU with exports worth EUR 74 million in 2013.