After more than two decades of negotiations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has forged a historic deal to curb subsidies in the fisheries sector that are feared to cause the depletion of seafood stocks.
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is the Geneva-based intergovernmental organization’s first multilateral deal that places environmental sustainability at its core. It prohibits the worst forms of harmful fisheries subsidies that support illegal fishing activities and overexploitation of stocks.
The agreement prohibits the most environmentally damaging subsidies linked to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; as well as overfishing and fishing in unregulated high seas. It also mandates member countries to take “special care” and exercise “due restraint” when granting subsidies to fishing or fishing-related activities wherein the status of stocks is unknown.
“In summary, these prohibitions are structured to enhance the sustainability of fishing practices, particularly in regions where fishing is economically significant and ecologically sensitive, like the Pacific Islands,” WTO Deputy Director-General Jennifer Nordquist said.
According to the WTO, the agreement will protect more than 260 million people on the planet who depend on fishing livelihoods, while supporting the sustainable use of shared oceans.
To date, 119 WTO member countries have accepted the agreement, including the Philippines, which gave its commitment in 2024.
The Philippine government believes that the landmark agreement can promote fairer competition in the global fisheries sector while helping to rebuild fish stocks.
Agriculture Undersecretary Asis Perez says that even without the WTO agreement, the Philippine fisheries sector can compete in the global market, as local fishing fleets operate independently, mostly without subsidies. He says the accord will ultimately benefit local fisherfolk, as it will ensure a level playing field among industry players.
Critics, however, argue that the historic fisheries deal does little to address the challenges faced by small-scale or traditional fisherfolk in the Philippines, who already receive minimal government support amid rising fuel prices. They say it won’t solve the fundamental problem of overfishing and overcapacity. It would be a positive development for the fisheries sector in the Philippines if our stakeholders can benefit from the WTO agreement, which hopefully protects all the people who depend on fishing livelihoods.
Hopefully it can be enforced so it can help Filipino fishermen, especially when it comes to the West Philippine Sea where the fishing fleets that are heavily subsidized by the Chinese government have not only been grabbing our territory, but also depleting natural resources with impunity.*
