WTO AGREEMENT ON FISHERIES SUBSIDIES (AFS)

News: India became the 123rd WTO member to deposit its Instrument of Acceptance to the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS).

About

  • Adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) in 2022 and entered into force in September 2025.
  • First WTO multilateral agreement with an environmental sustainability objective, aimed at curbing harmful fisheries subsidies.

Key Highlights

  • Prohibited Subsidies: Bans subsidies for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, unregulated high-seas fishing, and overfished stocks (unless used for stock recovery).
  • Scope: Covers wild marine capture fisheries and at-sea operations such as refuelling and processing; aquaculture and inland fisheries are exempt.
  • Special & Differential Treatment: Provides a 2-year transition period for developing countries and LDCs for activities within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
  • WTO Fish Fund: Offers financial assistance and capacity building to help developing countries implement the agreement.
  • Notification Requirement: Members must notify the WTO about fish stocks, subsidy programmes, and fisheries management measures.
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