With the agreement in force, attention turns from negotiation to implementation – at least for now. Starting 15 September, all ratifying members must comply with the Fish 1 rules: ending subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, fishing of overfished stocks, and unregulated high seas fishing. Equally important, members must now provide more complete and timely information on the scale, distribution and nature of their subsidy programmes. This transparency is key to judging the successes – or failures – of Fish 1.
The agreement also empowers members to demand clarity from one another. For example, a country can request details about subsidies that support foreign vessels operating in its waters or ask for the scientific justification behind continued subsidisation.
To support developing and least-developed countries, the newly launched Fish Fund will help build capacity for monitoring, reporting and compliance. This fund is important because it requires those providing the most subsidies to shoulder the greatest costs, ensuring the new commitments do not fall disproportionately on those least able to pay.
The clock has also started on the treaty’s four-year sunset clause. During this window, WTO members must agree to the more ambitious Fish 2 package, which is aimed at curbing capacity-enhancing subsidies that drive overfishing worldwide. Unfortunately, geopolitical headwinds have stalled talks and the vacant post of negotiation chair makes rapid progress unlikely. [The most recent chairperson, Iceland’s Einar Gunnarsson, stood down in July.]
Strong leadership from major economies, top subsidisers and coalitions such as the small island developing states and African, Caribbean and Pacific groups will be essential to keep momentum alive and deliver further meaningful reform.
‘This is a unique opportunity for Latin America, and for the ocean’
Andrea Michelson is regional coordinator of the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence
The entry into force of the agreement marks a milestone on the road to better ocean governance and offers Latin America a unique opportunity to move towards better and necessary responsible management of marine resources.
Harmful subsidies not only endanger biodiversity and ecosystems, many of which are fragile, but also compromise the livelihoods, food security and economic resilience of the world’s most vulnerable coastal communities.
For countries in Latin America with vast coastlines and economies strongly linked to the sea, this is hugely important. On the one hand, it reinforces the role of regulations, transparency, regional commitment and an ecosystem approach. On the other hand, it opens up the possibility of redirecting and channelling financial resources towards responsible fishing and good practices.
Governments in the region must implement the agreement with commitment and dedication to the care of natural environments, coordinating efforts with all actors in the fishing sector, civil society and science. Only through multi-stakeholder engagement will this new regulatory framework translate into healthier, more resilient, equitable and productive oceans for present and future generations.
‘Significant implications for the world’s largest fisheries nation’
Zhang Yimo is the priority project coordinator of WWF China’s sustainable blue economy programme
The entry into force of the agreement will have significant implications for China’s fisheries, particularly in enhancing the transparency of the nation’s subsidy policies.
The government has gained considerable experience in reforming fisheries subsidies in recent years. In 2021, it announced the abolition of fuel subsidies for fishing vessels. Instead, a new system was introduced in which only vessels that comply with certain conservation regulations can receive subsidies.
These “fisheries stewardship” subsidies in China still risk contributing to overcapacity and overfishing, according to a WWF report released last year. Under the existing framework, fishing vessel workers are not direct recipients of subsidies, and small-scale fishers receive significantly less support than those in the commercial sector.
We recommend including vessel workers as subsidy recipients and ensuring income security for small-scale fishers, along with providing work-transition support for those who need to retire from fishing.
This is a significant year for China’s fisheries sector, as the country joined the Port State Measures Agreement and the WTO agreement, which it accepted in 2023, has come into force. These developments will strengthen China’s role in the global fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The WTO agreement coming into force encourages the global community to clarify many outstanding issues of harmful subsidies in fisheries – including who should receive subsidies and how to define overfishing.
This article was originally published on Dialogue Earth under a Creative Commons licence.
