Fisheries Subsidies

IISD is focused on supporting the World Trade Organization negotiations to end harmful 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 World Trade Organization negotiations to end harmful fisheries subsidies, recognizing the need to restore the sustainability of fish stocks while supporting livelihoods and food security, particularly in developing countries.

Project team

Alice Tipping

Lead, Sustainable Trade and Fisheries Subsidies

Eleonora Bonaccorsi

Program Officer, Geneva 2030 Ecosystem

Tristan Irschlinger

Policy Advisor, Fisheries Subsidies

Ieva Baršauskaitė

Senior Policy Advisor

Funded by

Government of the United Kingdom

Latest

First WTO deal on fishing subsidies hailed as historic despite 'big holes'

After 20 years of failed negotiations, the World Trade Organization has secured a deal to curb harmful subsidies that contribute to overfishing. Conservationists and campaign groups welcomed last week’s agreement as historic, despite criticism of “big holes” in the agreement.

IISD in the news

The Guardian

June 21, 2022

Battling to define success after the WTO summit

It’s a little over three days after the World Trade Organization ministerial came to an agreement as dawn broke over Lake Geneva, and I’m sure some attendees are still catching up on sleep. There’s been a veritable banquet since of hot takes for you to choose from. Among the more thoughtful and optimistic are this thread from academic and former WTO official Nicolas Lamp and this on the fishing subsidies issue from piscine guru Alice Tipping. In today’s main piece I talk with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the institution’s director-general, who was very pugnacious indeed in declaring the ministerial a success, and muse on a couple of themes about how negotiations work and what they mean.

IISD in the news

Financial Times

June 20, 2022

Piyush Goyal Lauds WTO MC12's 'positive Outcomes'; 'India Has Received 100% Success'

Union Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has lauded the 'collective efforts' at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference and said that 'positive outcomes have come out' of it.

IISD in the news

Republic World

June 17, 2022

WTO Agrees on Limited IP Waiver for COVID-19 Vaccines and Package to Reduce Harmful Fishing Subsidies

The World Trade Organization’s first ministerial conference in four and a half years reached agreement early Friday morning on what officials described as "an unprecedented outcome" of six agreements, including a deal to curb some fishing subsidies that deplete ocean stocks, a limited waiver of WTO’s intellectual property protections on COVID-19 vaccines and a humanitarian food security measure – all of which will have wide-ranging impacts on global public health.

IISD in the news

Health Policy Watch

June 17, 2022

Surpêche. Un accord « historique » à l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (in French)

Vingt ans que le dossier est tabou à l’Organisation mondiale du commerce. Ce vendredi 17 juin, les délégués des 164 États membres sont enfin parvenus à un accord concernant les subventions à la pêche. Un compromis, certes, mais qualifié d’historique par les associations écologistes.

IISD in the news

Ouest-France

June 17, 2022

IISD Congratulates WTO Members on Achieving Fisheries Subsidies Deal

The deal marks a crucial step in moving the world's fisheries towards long-term sustainability and in multilateral efforts to address subsidies that harm the natural environment and the well-being of vulnerable communities.

Statement

June 17, 2022

Hopes fly for WTO fishing subsidies' deal at Geneva ministerial meeting

After talking about saving the world's fish stocks for 20 years, there is a whiff of optimism that the World Trade Organization (WTO) might be ready to clinch a deal to stop a fish meltdown on the planet.

IISD in the news

Geneva Solutions

June 10, 2022

A World Trade Organization Deal on Fisheries Subsidies: Across the finish line?

Tristan Irschlinger and Alice Tipping discuss the progress made to secure a deal on fisheries subsidies and what questions remain as WTO members seek final consensus.

Policy Analysis

June 7, 2022

Project details

Topic: Sustainable Development Goals; Subsidies; Trade

Focus area: Resources

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