Fisheries Subsidies That Contribute to Overcapacity and Overfishing: A review of the science and key decisions in the WTO negotiations

WTO Members reached an agreement on fisheries subsidies at the WTO’s Twelfth Ministerial Conference, but also committed to continue negotiating and agree on more “comprehensive” disciplines. Further talks will aim to establish additional rules on subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing (OCOF). As Members prepare to engage in a first cluster of meetings in late March, the objective of this virtual workshop is to provide delegations with key knowledge tools to support their informed engagement in these negotiations. 

The first session will enable participants to understand key pieces of analytical work on fisheries subsidies and the contribution of those subsidies to overcapacity and overfishing under different circumstances. The second session starts with an overview of the main approaches to rules on subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing that have been considered by Members, including links to the analysis presented earlier. It will then help participants to review the key steps of the negotiating process in this area leading up to MC12, providing an in-depth look at the choices made up to that point.

Agenda 

2:00 – 2:05: Opening remarks 

2:05 – 3:30: Session 1: Understanding existing research on the impact of fisheries subsidies 

• Rashid Sumaila – University Killam Professor, University of British Columbia 

• Jayasurya Kalakkal – Environment and Trade Consultant, UNEP 

• Claire Delpeuch – Head of Unit, Fisheries and Aquaculture, OECD 

Open discussion 

3:30 – 4:55: Session 2: Approaches and key decisions in the WTO negotiations on overcapacity and overfishing 

• Alice Tipping – Lead, Sustainable Trade, IISD 

• Tristan Irschlinger – Policy Advisor, Fisheries Subsidies, IISD 

Open discussion 

4:55 – 5:00: Concluding remarks