Why in the News?

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies has entered into force on 15 September 2025, three years after adoption in June 2022.

What is the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies?

• Nature: First WTO treaty centred on environmental sustainability, designed to reduce harmful subsidies that drive illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfishing.
• Core Prohibitions:
  • Subsidies for IUU fishing vessels or operators.
  • Subsidies for fishing in overfished stocks, unless linked to recovery plans.
  • Subsidies for high-seas fishing in areas outside coastal state jurisdiction or Regional Fisheries Management Organizations.
• Transparency: Members must provide detailed reports on fish stocks, fleets, catch volumes, and subsidies.
• Transition Period: Two years allowed for developing countries and least developed countries before full implementation.
• Phased Approach: Called “Fish One”, to be followed by “Fish Two” covering overcapacity and fleet subsidies.
• Global Significance: Contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 14.6, which seeks elimination of harmful subsidies to protect global fish stocks.

India and this Agreement: 

• Position: India welcomed the treaty, noting it is one of the lowest fisheries subsidizers despite its large fishing community.
• Equity Argument: Urged that historic subsidizers and industrial fishing nations take greater obligations, based on polluter pays principle and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR).
• Sector Context: India’s fisheries are dominated by millions of small-scale, traditional fishers dependent on coastal resources, requiring fair treatment.
• Benefits for India:
  • Curbing IUU fishing by foreign industrial fleets, protecting coastal livelihoods.
  • Allowing space for stock-rebuilding subsidies tied to sustainability.
  • Ensuring fair competition for Indian traditional fishers in global trade.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now