Fisheries Subsidies

IISD's work on fisheries, trade and sustainable development contributes to crafting multilateral and regional trade rules and policies that support sustainable fishing. We are focused on supporting the current World Trade Organization negotiations to end harmful fisheries subsidies by 2020, recognizing the need to restore the sustainability of fish stocks while supporting livelihoods and food security, particularly in developing countries.

How Can We Support Fisheries During the Pandemic?

May 20, 2020 | Alice Tipping , Tristan Irschlinger

We must aim to support businesses, incomes, and food security while creating a more sustainable future for fisheries.

News: Fisheries negotiations slow down due to COVID-19; WTO members still committed to finalizing the deal by the end of 2020

April 16, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced negotiations on fisheries subsidies at the World Trade Organization (WTO) onto a slow track, but negotiators are continuing to work to meet the 2020 deadline for a deal set by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 14.6.

Reports: Reflections on the WTO Negotiations on IUU Fishing Subsidies

This policy brief discusses some of the legal issues that have emerged in the negotiation of a new rule on subsidies to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the context of the World Trade Organization negotiations on fisheries subsidies.

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News: Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations at the WTO: Strong disagreements over exceptions

February 20, 2020

Alice Tipping, who leads the Global Subsidies Initiative’s work on fisheries subsidies, reports on the latest round of negotiations towards an agreement on fisheries subsidies at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. Highlights Two rounds of negotiations towards a WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies were held on January 16–17 and February 6–7, 2020.

Reports: Addressing the Development Dimension of an Overcapacity and Overfishing Subsidy Discipline in the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations

This discussion paper analyzes approaches to new WTO rules on subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing in the context of development priorities.

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Blog: Deep Dive Into Fisheries Subsidies, Part 2: Cheap gas and free nets causing problems for shrimp

January 20, 2020 | Paulina Resich , Dyhia Belhabib

Stories of success in Latin American fishing communities have nothing to do with the price of gas or getting cheap equipment. Instead, there must be a system that protects their business from illegal fishing.

Reports: Une exploration des impacts potentiels des règles de l'OMC sur les subventions à la pêche : Le cas de la pêcherie de sardinelles en Afrique de l'Ouest

Éléments principaux (English below) La pêcherie de sardinelles dans les eaux de la Gambie, de la Guinée-Bissau, de la Mauritanie et du Sénégal fait face à une situation de surcapacité et les stocks de sardinelles sont surexploités.

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Reports: Exploring the Possible Impacts of WTO Rules on Fisheries Subsidies: The Case of the Southern Longline Tuna Fishery in the Western and Central Pacific

This case study explores the potential impact of new rules on fisheries subsidies on the southern longline tuna fishery in the Western and Central Pacific ocean.

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RELATED EVENT

Webinar | Fisheries Subsidies: State of play and where to next

Thursday, February 3, 2022 - 09:00

Thursday, February 3, 2022 - 08:00

This webinar explores the state of play and key remaining questions in World Trade Organization negotiations on fisheries subsidies.

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