CEBU, Philippines — April 23, 2015 — The Philippines has been removed from the list of countries that the European Union (EU) has threatened with a trade ban due to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, following reforms in the legal framework of the Fisheries Code.
Oceana welcomed the de-listing of the Philippines, which shows that the government has enough political will to reform the fishing industry.
“We congratulate the Philippine government’s efforts in complying with the conditions to lift the yellow card warning imposed by the EU. The yellow card was actually a positive development as it pushed government into action by amending the Fisheries Code to make it more relevant, more effective and be better deterrent against IUU fishing,” said lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice President for Oceana in the Philippines.
The European Union noted that the warning was lifted after the Philippines adopted legal measures to combat illegal fishing. South Korea, another EU fish exporter, is also off the list.