The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies has officially entered into force, marking a milestone in global fisheries policy and marine sustainability.
Adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference in 2022, the agreement bans harmful fisheries subsidies that fuel illegal fishing, deplete fish stocks and undermine food security worldwide.
It is the first WTO pact with environmental sustainability at its core.
“This Agreement demonstrates how you can put trade in the service of both people and planet,” said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general, WTO, praising members for their commitment to sustainable fisheries policy.
Tougher rules
The rules prohibit subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, as well as for operations targeting overfished stocks and unregulated high seas.
With global fisheries subsidies estimated at $35 billion annually, $22 billion of which are deemed harmful, the agreement addresses a key driver of fish stock depletion.
At the entry-into-force ceremony on 15 September, WTO members celebrated the ratifications that pushed the agreement past the two-thirds threshold.
Leaders including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of France Emmanuel Macron sent congratulatory messages, underscoring broad international support.
To help developing and least-developed countries meet new obligations, the WTO Fish Fund has raised over $18 million for technical assistance and capacity building.
A new Committee on Fisheries Subsidies will oversee implementation, ensuring transparency and accountability in subsidy practices.
Members have pledged swift action, reaffirming the agreement’s significance for tackling illegal fishing, protecting fish stocks and shaping a sustainable global fisheries policy.
