EU to sanction countries for illegal fishing

The European Commission (EC) has called on European Union (EU) countries to impose trade sanctions on Belize, Cambodia and Guinea over illegal fishing, warning that South Korea, Ghana and Curacao could be next.

Accordingly, the EC proposed to issue an EU-wide ban on seafood imports from Cambodia, Belize and Guinea.

EU Maritime and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki said these decisions demonstrate the EU's firm commitment to tackling illegal fishing and that the EU will continue to put pressure on these countries.

According to the EC, every year the world has about 26 million tons of fish, worth 10 billion euros, caught illegally.

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The EU is the world's leading importer of fresh, frozen fish and seafood. According to the European Statistical Office (Eurostat), the EU imported more than 50 million tonnes of fishery products in 2011, worth around €18.5 billion.

However, the EU has also been criticized for not being proactive in preventing illegal fishing by many countries around the world.

Greenpeace said the decision would spur the six countries to upgrade their fisheries management and help create a better future for their waters and fishermen.

According to Vietnam Fisheries