Thursday, 16th October 2014
Proposed EC ban on Lankan fish imports
Ridma Dissanayake
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that Sri Lanka will comply with the European Commission requirements and deal with the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing vessels within the next three months.
Issuing a special statement on the proposed ban imposed by the European Commission on imports of fish products from Sri Lanka, Minister Senaratne said that the government will never place Sri Lankan fishermen in any difficulty due to the decision taken by the European Commission.
"We are making all arrangements to explain our efforts to the European Commission for making Sri Lanka's fisheries industry free from IUU fishing methods and vessels and we are making all attempts to complete the above task soon within the next three months," he explained.
According to the assessment of the Commission, Sri Lanka has not sufficiently addressed the shortcomings in its fisheries control system identified two years ago.
The main weaknesses include shortcomings in the implementation of control measures, a lack of deterrent sanctions for high seas fleet, as well as lacking compliance with international and regional fisheries rules.
However, Minister Rajitha Senaratne in his statement said that all measures will be taken within the next three months to prove Sri Lanka's dedication to agree with the European Commission's conditions and he also promised to protect Sri Lankan fishermen without letting them be penalised in any manner by the Commission's decision.
From : http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=police-legal/sl-will-comply-requirements
