Commission warns island groups over illegal fishing

Four countries risk trade sanctions if they do not step up their efforts to combat illegal fishing within six months.

The European Commission has today (12 December) handed out “yellow cards” to the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines over their illegal fishing activities. The decision is part of the European Union’s goal to make the fisheries sector more sustainable.

The four countries risk being identified as non-co-operative countries if within six months they do not step up their efforts in the fight against illegal fishing. The Commission found that the Solomon Islands have a weak certification system, while Tuvalu lacks control of its fishing activities. In both Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines there is a lack of control of the fishing activities of its own vessels.

If the situation does not improve, the EU could take further steps, which could mean trade sanctions on fisheries imports, as was recently the case with Sri Lanka. At this stage, the warnings do not affect trade.

The Commission has proposed to take measures to address the shortcomings in a formal dialogue with each country. Karmenu Vella, the European commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, is convinced that the countries will commit to sustainable development.

“We will work with them to make that happen and we will continue to prioritise sustainability in waters at home and abroad,” Vella said.

The EU adopted legislation in 2010 to ensure sure that no illegally caught fisheries products end up on the EU market.

As of 14 January imports of fish from Sri Lanka will be banned because of illegal fishing. Despite four years of talks, the Commission found that Sri Lanka could not demonstrate that it had made enough efforts to tackle illegal fishing. The main weaknesses include a lack of control measures and failure to comply with international and regional fisheries rules.

Currently, the Commission is watching the situation in Korea, Ghana and Curacao who all received formal warnings in November 2013 but have worked towards developing better legislation. The negotiation process was extended to January.

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