An updated draft text of an agreement to end harmful fishing subsidies was presented for ministerial approval at the WTO’s Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13), which opened on Monday, February 26 in Abu Dhabi, UAE
WTO negotiators are seeking to develop an agreement by 2022 that bans the subsidization of illegal fishing by extending the ban on subsidies that contribute to overfishing and overcapacity of the fishing sector in general. On 26 February, a further eight countries submitted their acceptance of the treaty, bringing the total to 70, with 110 needed for it to enter into force.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has urged WTO members to push to update the MC13 agreement, despite general pessimism about whether an agreement will ever materialize.
“The completion of ‘Fish 2’ and its rapid entry into force will really put WTO members at the forefront of action on the sustainability of our oceans and protect the livelihoods of the 260 million people who depend on these oceans,” he said. . “Afterwards. the estimated USD 22 billion [EUR 20.3 billion] each year on harmful fisheries subsidies will free up resources that the subsidizers can re-use, whether to help people domestically or to help the wider world, such as through green financing for the poor country or support for climate-related loss and damage.”
Iceland WTO Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson, who led the talks, presented the text after a month of negotiations. Several blank spaces remain in the text pending further negotiations, including final wording on the extent of exceptions for developing countries.
Speaking on February 14 at the latest general meeting of the WTO’s council of ambassadors, Gunnarsson said he was “encouraged by the positive engagement and problem-solving approach” that all WTO members brought to the negotiations. .
The draft text, which formed the basis of discussions led by Gunnarsson, proposed a two-tier reporting regime, with the responsibility of countries with major deep-sea fleets to comply with stricter requirements. reporting standards and poor developing countries receive exemptions to allow their subsistence fishermen to continue fishing.
This issue has become a sticking point for African, Caribbean, and Pacific nations, who have suggested that their small fisheries are being unfairly held back for damage caused by larger fleets, such as the Chinese and European fleets.
“One does not have to be an oceanologist to agree that those who have contributed greatly to the depletion of fish stocks should have a greater responsibility in preventing exploitative fishing activities and the small countries that depend on fishing for work and nutrition should not be hindered,” Barbados WTO Ambassador Matthew Wilson wrote in a recent blog post.
Pew Charitable Trusts Senior Officer for Conservation Support Ernesto Fernandez Monge said he was “cautiously optimistic” on the grounds for a deal.
“We have heard positive comments and seen constructive interactions during the last fish month. Members have improved in several areas; in others there is a recognition that ministerial engagement is needed because there is no more room for technical discussions,” Fernandez Monge told SeafoodSource.
Fernandez Monge warned, however, that some of the negotiating parties have returned to previous positions.
“But, they are [have] face opposition from others, so our feeling is that everyone can return to the text from December as a possible landing zone, with some adjustments based on the progress they made in the month of fish, “he said. As always, there will be wildcards, and we will have to see how they play in Abu Dhabi.”
