"Sri Lanka has now successfully reformed its fisheries governance system
and we are waiting until the EU Council approval comes for lifting the
ban on Sri Lanka's sea food exports to the EU, and we hope it would be a
positive move, Attache Trade – EU Office in Colombo Rohan Layman told
The Island Financial Review yesterday "Sri Lanka was issued with a
yellow card in 2012 and been listed by the Council in February 2015. By
today it has amended its legal framework, strengthened sanctions and
improved its fleet control, he said. The ban came into effect in
February 2015 and Sri Lanka's sea food exports plummeted 35.5 percent to
$163.3 million that year compared to 2014. Sri Lanka was warned in 2012
by the EU over its failure to implement control measures in fishing
adequately and comply with international and regional fisheries rules.
The ban has weighed heavily on exports from Sri Lanka which used to be
the second largest exporter of fresh and chilled swordfish and tuna to
the EU with exports worth 74 million euros in 2013.
"Sri Lanka has now a robust legal and policy framework to fight illegal
fishing activities, EU Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella said in a
statement issued by the EU Delegation in Colombo. It said 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 a warning by the EU on illegal fishing. EU had
also warned Kiribati, Sierra Leone and Trinidad & Tobago with
yellow cards as they risk being uncooperative in the fight against
illegal fishing. Fisheries Ministry sources said over $100 million is
lost per year following the European Union’s ban on imports of fish
netted in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan government will also submit the
application for the restoration of the GSP + trade cocessions to EU. It
will get a positive response from the EU on this issue as well, Layman said.
By Hiran H Senewiratne
SOURCE: THE ISLAND, 09th June 16'
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