Thursday, 16 October 2014 00:00
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Time is running out for Sri Lanka’s fishing industry. Sri Lanka has been given a further three-month extension to fulfil obligations imposed by the European Union to prevent Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices or face a ban on fish exports to EU countries. This is a situation that has been exacerbated by the Sri Lanka Government’s own incompetence for not only failing to improve regulation but also allowing unregulated and untracked fishing by large scale Chinese vessels in local waters.
The EU has already moved to ban fish imports from Sri Lanka, the second biggest exporter to the bloc, due to Sri Lanka’s failure to demonstrate that it sufficiently addressed IUU fishing after four years of intense dialogue with the country. Sri Lanka is the second biggest exporter of fresh and chilled swordfish and tuna to the EU (Euro 74 million of imports in 2013) and in those circumstances the EU cannot tolerate not to know whether the fish they import into the EU was caught sustainably or not.
Four other countries – Belize, Fiji, Panama, Togo and Vanuatu – which had received warnings at the same time as Sri Lanka, have successfully taken measures to tackle illegal fishing and consequently, the Commission proposes to lift the trade measures imposed in March this year against Belize. This is a tough lesson for Sri Lanka that is usually content to blame its ineptitude on pretty much everything else except itself. If other small island nations with limited resources can meet EU guidelines, then the Government has no excuses to do the same, especially when the livelihoods of thousands are at stake.
Fisheries Minster Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, after holding many rounds of discussions with the EU and putting in place many regulations for local fishermen, has stood by as the Government dropped the ball on Chinese operators. At least eight Chinese vessels were recently given approval to operate under Sri Lanka’s flag. By December the Chinese vessels must meet the conditions which include the monitoring of fishing vessels entitled to operate under Sri Lanka’s flag.
A report issued on Sri Lanka’s fishing by the EU notes licences are currently issued by Sri Lanka without a predetermined procedure in a non-systematic way. It says Sri Lanka has failed to discharge its duties under international law with respect to international rules, regulations and conservation and management measures.
It goes on to say increased sanctions on IUU infringements could be considered as a deterrent only for a part of the Sri Lankan fleet of large scale vessels above 24 metres in length, while the sanctions foreseen by the new Fisheries Act, which is applicable to this part of the fleet, cannot be considered a deterrent. The report says the fine of Rs. 1.5 million cannot be considered effective in securing compliance.
China’s huge influence in Sri Lanka together with inherent weaknesses in the country’s institutions could cost local fishermen the most lucrative fish market in the world. Rampant corruption, lack of transparency, weak legislation and incompetence is part and parcel of the Government. Yet the costs are high.
Sri Lanka is already locked in an endless tussle with Indian fishermen and if the EU market also closes its doors because of the faults of the Government, then not only will Sri Lanka lose valuable foreign exchange earnings, but any impetus to save the environment will also be lost. Markets such as China, while willing to step in, are not likely to follow environmental standards. The net is closing rapidly and it appears the Government is content to let it.
