As we had anticipated (see EUROPE 12386/17), the European Commission decided on Thursday 12 December to send a yellow card to Panama on the grounds that the country is not sufficiently combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Republic of Panama had already received a yellow card in November 2012, which was lifted in October 2014.
The Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said he hoped that the Panamanian authorities would “implement the necessary measures to demonstrate their commitment in the fight against IUU fishing”.
The Commission has identified problems in controls, after improvements observed between 2012 and 2014. “This undermines the country's ability to meet its obligations under international law as a flag State, port State, coastal State and market State”, the Commission points out.
Panama is encouraged to step up its actions to ensure adequate control over the activities of its vessels to prevent and deter them from engaging in or supporting IUU fishing. The system of sanctions against offenders must be improved, as well as the implementation of the ‘Port State Measures Agreement’, in order to prevent fish stemming from IUU fishing activities from reaching its market or others, and to deter IUU fishing vessels from receiving port services.
An adequate control of the activity of processing plants (especially those exporting to the EU) is of paramount importance, the Commission insists.
The yellow card is a warning and gives Panama the chance to react and take measures to rectify the situation within a reasonable time.
To consult the status of current proceedings: http://bit.ly/36xvLat (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)