EU Warns Developing Nations about Illegal Fishing

Know your place at the bottom of the food chain

The European Commission warned eight developing countries Thursday of sanctions if they did not do more to stop "criminal" illegal fishing, saying it was taking the first step of its kind.

The Commission said it did not plan to impose penalties as yet on Belize, Cambodia, Fiji, Guinea, Panama, Sri Lanka, Togo and Vanuatu, but stressed they could face a ban on the sale of fishing equipment, for example, failing action.

"This is not a black list but a yellow card," European maritime affairs commissioner Maria Damanaki said in a statement.