At a recent meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard emphasized the urgent need to complete critical work on fisheries subsidies. "The sustainability of fisheries is a growing emergency for nations worldwide as the deterioration of fish stocks accelerates unabated. Many millions of people worldwide depend on marine fishing for income, food security, and livelihood. Sustainable management of our ocean resources is therefore essential for our future," DDG Ellard stated.
DDG Ellard highlighted the significance of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, concluded at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in 2022. This agreement aims to prohibit harmful subsidies that impact global fisheries sustainability, including those related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfished stocks, and unregulated high seas fishing. "However, as you know, our work is not complete. Two critical tasks remain, and we need to tackle them urgently," she added.
The first task involves ensuring that two-thirds of WTO members—110 members—accept the Agreement by depositing their national instruments of ratification in Geneva. Currently, 78 members have done so; thus, 32 more are needed to reach this target by year-end. "To those of you who have not deposited, I urge you most earnestly to take this important step promptly. Please mobilize your governments and your legislatures to this end," DDG Ellard urged.
The second pressing issue concerns completing ongoing negotiations on subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing. These discussions nearly concluded at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi but remain unfinished. A diverse group of WTO members has expressed strong support for finalizing these negotiations by month's end. Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson of Iceland chairs these negotiations and has noted an overwhelming collective will among members to finalize 'Fish 2' by the upcoming General Council meeting in July despite some remaining skepticism.
DDG Ellard also mentioned Article 7 of the Agreement which provides a voluntary financing mechanism—the WTO Fish Fund—to assist developing countries and least-developed country (LDC) members in implementing the Agreement. The Fund is set up with partners including FAO, World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and WTO.
During a side event at the FAO Committee on Fisheries meeting, DDG Ellard elaborated on the WTO Fish Fund's role in offering project grants: up to $50,000 for preliminary activities such as studies and needs assessments; and up to $300,000 for complex interventions like fisheries management improvements and legislative updates.
She also stressed compliance with notification requirements under both the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.