Karmenu Vella, European commissioner for maritime affairs and fisheries, is taking a tough stance on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, with an announcement on 21 April that the commission has issued a warning to Thailand: Improve your IUU control methods or else.
In a video interview with SeafoodSource at Seafood Expo Global 2015, the commissioner expanded on the commission’s decision. He said it may be the first of many more serious actions, up to and including seafood trade sanctions against Thailand, which would bar Thai seafood products from entering the EU.
“There is a process that has to be followed,” he said, noting the warning followed lengthy discussions of the IUU problem with Thailand, the official the first step in the process.
“Discussions were not getting us anywhere,” he said.
Vella said the commission is still open, however, to further discussion if the Thai government is willing to engage. Also, he said, the warning may be lifted entirely “if we see the good will is there.”
As an example, Vella noted the commission also announced on 21 April the lifting of similar warnings against Korea and the Philippines. This was the result of talks prompted by the warnings, followed by action by both countries.
“There was progress, good progress, registered with both,” he said.
While Vella said he is not afraid to levy sanctions against Thailand, he hopes that will not be necessary.
“Our preferred way is to cooperate rather than go for commercial measures and trade measures,” he said.
You can hear more from the commissioner on IUU fishing in the video below:
