North Macedonia has formally accepted the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, marking its commitment to responsible fisheries management and global ocean sustainability.
On 28 February, North Macedonia deposited its instrument of acceptance with the WTO bringing the total number of acceptances to 91, with 20 more needed for the agreement to take effect.
“I’m grateful for North Macedonia’s formal acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. While a landlocked country, North Macedonia’s acceptance demonstrates its commitment to the multilateral trading system and the WTO and underscores all members’ shared interest in responsible fisheries resource management, ocean sustainability and food security,” said DG Okonjo-Iweala, director general, WTO.
“This acceptance provides further momentum for the entry into force of this important agreement for people and the planet.”
Shared interests
Mr Burim Bilali, Acting Permanent Representative of North Macedonia, said: “By joining this agreement, North Macedonia reaffirms its dedication to the conservation of marine resources and the fight against harmful subsidies that contribute to overfishing.”
The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022, introduces binding global rules to curb subsidies contributing to overfishing and the depletion of fish stocks.
It also provides technical assistance and capacity-building support for developing and least-developed countries.
Once ratified by two-thirds of WTO members, the agreement will prohibit subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfished stocks, and unregulated high-seas fishing. This should help pave the way for more sustainable global fisheries practices.
