Brussels, 22/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On the sidelines of the Seafood exhibition, European Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella granted EUROPE a short interview on the measures being taken by the EU to tackle illegal fishing (interview by Lionel Changeur).
Agence Europe: Are you satisfied with the progress made so far by third countries in tackling illegal fishing?
Karmenu Vella: I'm happy that there has been some progress and even sometimes a great deal of progress, for example, with South Korea and the Philippines (which have taken the necessary measures, see EUROPE 11299). But there is more to be done. For the moment, we are working with 50 countries, 18 are being monitored and we have brought trade measures (an import ban) against four (Sri Lanka, Guinea, Cambodia and Belize; this last country was removed from the blacklist in December 2014). This work has had a positive effect: we can resolve problems before getting to trade measures. I prefer to resolve problems through cooperation. The third countries understand that what we are asking them to do is in their own interest.
Thailand has just been given a yellow card. Will it be able to avoid a red?
It's too early to say. We have begun discussions with this country. These discussions have got nowhere so far (hence the yellow card). We will open more formal discussions and then re-assess the situation in six months' time. If the results are there, if there are good signs of progress, then maybe it will take a little more time (than six months) to get the results we are looking for. But if we see no willingness on the part of that country, then we will have to consider trade measures.
And within the EU, what is the European Commission doing to tackle illegal fishing?
We are doing a great deal. Before trying to persuade third countries, we had to put our own house in order. I can't say that our house is 100% tidy but the level of illegal fishing in the EU is far, far below what it is outside Community waters. The EU fishes 5% of all fish catches in the world (with a small amount of illegal fishing). Illegal fishing worldwide represents 15% of total fish catches. So illegal catches are three times bigger than EU catches! However, if an EU country persistently breaches EU rules, we have the power to go as far as to withdraw its funding under the common fisheries policy.