Fisheries subsidy

Extent

The estimates on the global amounts of fisheries subsidies vary and range from US$15–35 billion annually. The range of estimates is partially due to fact that fisheries subsidies come in many shapes and forms. Fisheries subsidies include direct transfers of funds, income or price support measures, tax credits, exemptions and rebates, low-interest loans and guarantees, preferential treatment and use of regulatory support mechanisms. Not all estimates include government funding for fisheries management, such data collection and control and enforcement, or the possible absence of access fees.

An open letter by scientists found that as of 2021 harmful fisheries subsidies have increased globally and asks the WTO to eliminate such subsidies. It did so in 2022, ordering countries to end subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; fishing in international waters; or fishing of overfished stocks.

Impacts

It is acknowledged that some forms of fisheries subsidies can threaten the sustainability of fisheries resources by encouraging overfishing/overcapacity and excess fishing effort. Therefore, reducing the long-term viability of the fishing industries which are estimated to generate US$ 50 billion less per year than they could as a result of subsidies, while others are considered beneficial, promoting conservations and sustainable fisheries management. States committed at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing and overcapacity. Also, parties to the World Trade Organization agreed to strengthen disciplines on fisheries subsidies, including through a prohibition of certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing.

Society and culture

Global goals

The United Nations' framework for Sustainable Development Goals includes targets to end subsidies that contribute to overfishing within Goal 14, Life Below Water.

References

References

1. "2019: The Year to End Harmful Fisheries Subsidies".
2. UNEP – United Nations Environmental Programme (2008) Fisheries Subsidies: A Critical Issue for Trade and Sustainable Development at the WTO: An Introductory Guide. UNEP, Geneva.
3. "Scientists join international push to ban harmful fisheries subsidies". University of Western Australia.
4. (29 October 2021). "WTO must ban harmful fisheries subsidies". Science.
5. (21 June 2022). "First WTO deal on fishing subsidies hailed as historic despite 'big holes'".
6. "Goal 14 targets".
7. Adam, David. "Majority of global fishing subsidies ‘harmful’, report finds." https://chinadialogueocean.net/11585-majority-of-global-fishing-subsidies-harmful-report-finds/#:~:text=In%20the%20most%20up%2Dto,went%20towards%20increasing%20catch%20capacity. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
8. Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, paragraph 31(f).
9. WTO (2005) Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, Annex D paragraph 9.
10. United Nations (2017) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017, [[:File:A RES 71 313 E.pdf. Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development]] ([https://undocs.org/A/RES/71/313 A/RES/71/313])