Progress is being made by Sri Lanka with regards to implementing sufficient measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, confirmed the European Commission (EC).
A technical dialogue between EC and Sri Lanka authorities concluded this week in Colombo, with the European contingent saying it was pleased with the improvements made by Sri Lanka to comply with the regulations of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
The two sides agreed to work together on the further measures that are necessary to address the remaining shortcomings under the EU legislation on IUU fishing.
This is the aim of lifting the ban on fishery exports from Sri Lanka to the EU in the coming months, said the EC.
In January this year, after months of discussions, EU fisheries ministers decided to “red-card” Sri Lanka by putting in place trade restrictions for failing to properly monitor its fishing fleet, punish vessels guilty of illegal fishing, or develop robust fisheries laws to deter IUU fishing. The decision also meant EU member states’ fishing vessels couldn’t operate in Sri Lankan waters.
The EU imported 7,400 metric tons (MT) of fish from Sri Lanka in 2013 with a total value of EUR 74 million (USD 78.9 million). Until the ban, Sri Lanka was one of the biggest exporters to the EU of high-value fishery products such as fresh and chilled swordfish, tuna and tuna-like species.
