The new World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on fisheries subsidies has sparked criticism from fisher groups and civil society organizations, who argue it inadequately addresses the problem of marine resource over-exploitation. Despite a mandate set by the Sustainable Development Goals to combat harmful fishing subsidies, the agreement has been criticized for failing to effectively curb the activities of large industrial fleets involved in illegal fishing.
Adam Wolfenden, Deputy Coordinator of the Pacific Network on Globalisation, expressed concerns that the agreement places an equal burden on all countries, regardless of their individual contributions to overfishing. A collective statement from over 30 global small-scale fishers and civil society groups echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the prohibitions could disproportionately impact low-capacity developing nations and small-scale fishers, while allowing significant industrial fleets to continue operations largely unchecked.
The agreement, concluded at the 2022 WTO Ministerial, will only come into effect after ratification from two-thirds of the WTO’s membership. Yet, it has already influenced international trade dynamics, as evidenced by Indonesia’s commitment to ratify the agreement as part of its recent trade deal with the US, which included tariff reductions for Indonesian exports.
The stipulations of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies focus on banning subsidies for Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfished stocks, and certain high-seas fishing activities. However, critics argue that the agreement fails to differentiate between IUU fishing by small-scale and large-scale fishers, despite their vastly different impacts. This could mean that communities reliant on unreported fishing, due to inadequate governmental infrastructure, might lose essential subsidies.
Ongoing negotiations aim to tackle subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing, issues widely regarded as the most destructive. However, critics, including Wolfenden, question the current text of these negotiations for failing to hold large, advanced fleets accountable.
In the wake of these discussions, there is growing pressure to reassign the dialogue on fishery subsidies to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Committee of Fisheries, which many believe is better equipped to handle the complexities involved. This push is backed by global fishers and civil society organizations advocating for a more experienced and inclusive forum.
The agreement continues to spur debate within the Pacific region, where only Fiji and Tonga have ratified it among island members. Leaders stress the importance of their participation in ongoing negotiations to ensure that the interests of small-scale fishers and coastal communities, who heavily rely on marine resources, are protected and prioritized.
The WTO’s handling of fisheries subsidies has now become a focal point for international trade and environmental sustainability discussions. The pressure for a more equitable and effective agreement underscores the need for a comprehensive approach that responsibly addresses issues of overfishing and supports the livelihoods of communities dependent on marine resources.
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