Rajitha says will comply with EU to resolve the fish export ban

Thursday, 16 October 2014 00:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Following the European Commission decision to impose a ban on Sri Lanka’s fish exports to the European Union bloc, Sri Lanka said the country would comply with the international standards of fishing. The Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Rajitha Senaratne said that he would take steps to settle the issues with the European Union. The European Commission Tuesday proposed to ban imports of fisheries products from Sri Lanka, the second biggest exporter to the bloc, due to Sri Lanka’s failure to demonstrate that it sufficiently addressed illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The ban will come into force in mid-January 2015 if Sri Lanka does not comply with the international standards of fishing. Sri Lanka is the second biggest exporter of fresh and chilled swordfish and tuna to the EU with $ 94 million of imports in 2013. National Organiser of Common Fisheries Union Rathna Gamage said the ban is due to the Sri Lankan Government’s inactivity regarding European Union stipulations. He said the EU has expressed its concern regarding Chinese ships fishing in international seas bearing the Sri Lankan flag. The EU in 2012 issued a Yellow Card warning to Sri Lanka following complaints of 11 Sri Lankan vessels intruding into international waters in 2011for fishing and fishermen violating the international maritime boundary laws.

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