Bangkok (dpa) - The European Commission expressed concern and threatened trade sanctions over Thailand's efforts to fight illegal fishing, a local newspaper reported Saturday, citing a minister.
The European Union (EU) executive body told Thai representatives in Brussels that more needed to be done against unregulated and unrestricted fishing off Thailand, Thai Rath newspaper said.
"If the situation is not improved, the EU may impose 'yellow cards' on seafood trade with Thailand," Agriculture Minister Pitiphong Phuengboon Na Ayutthaya was quoted as saying.
"It may lead to 'red cards,' or trade sanctions, if we cannot demonstrate our progress in stopping illegal fishing," the minister added.
The EU is one of Thailand's biggest markets for seafood. Thailand exports 190,000 tonnes of seafood, worth 7 billion dollars, each year to the union.
The bloc has imposed its sanctions, or "red cards," on Sri Lanka and issued formal warnings, or "yellow cards," to South Korea, Ghana and Caracao.