Sen. Cynthia Villar welcomed yesterday the lifting of the ban imposed by the European Union on Philippine fish products to Europe due to the proliferation of illegal fishing. “We recognize the seriousness of this warning from the EU which, if not addressed, will mean trade sanctions, including a ban on fish imports from the Philippines. That is why we worked promptly to amend the 16-year-old Fisheries Code and strengthened the law against illegal fishing,” Villar said. According to a report by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, in 2013 alone, the Philippines exported P9.4 billion (165 million euros) worth of fish products to EU countries, one of its biggest markets in the world.

Mendez, C. (2015, May 1). Villar Lauds lifting of EU ban on Phl fish products. The Philippine Star, p. 6.