The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies at the WTO

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

• The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (Agreement) agreed at the recently concluded World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial meeting will prohibit subsidies from being provided for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfished stocks.
• Under the Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT), Developing Countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have been allowed a transition period of two years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement. 
• The Agreement also prohibits providing subsidies for fishing on high seas, which are outside the jurisdiction of coastal countries and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations.
• As per the Agreement, no prohibition has been imposed on a WTO Member regarding granting or maintaining subsidy to its vessel or operator as long as it is not carrying out IUU. 
• Similarly, no prohibition on providing subsidies has been imposed for fishing regarding overfished stocks as long as such subsidies are implemented to rebuild the stock to a biologically sustainable level.

India’s Stand

• India’s stand is that we are one of the lowest fisheries subsidisers despite such a large population and one of the disciplined nations in sustainably harnessing the fisheries resources. 
• India does not exploit the resources indiscriminately like other advanced fishing nations and India’s fisheries sector primarily depends on several millions of small-scale and traditional fishers.

Significance

• The Agreement will eliminate the subsidies granted to fishing vessels or fishing operators engaged in IUU fishing.
• Such disciplining will check large-scale IUU fishing which deprives coastal countries like India of fisheries resources, thereby significantly impacting the livelihoods of our fishing communities.
• This Agreement also provides flexibility to extend subsidies concerning overfished stocks if measures are taken to rebuild fish stocks to a biologically sustainable level, which supports our fishing communities.

National Policy on Marine Fisheries 2017  

• • To ensure the health and ecological integrity of the marine living resources of India’s EEZ through sustainable harvests. 

• The strategy would be based on seven pillars, namely

• Sustainable development, 
• Socio-economic Upliftment of fishers
• Principle of Subsidiarity
• Partnership
• Inter-generational equity 
• Gender justice  
• Precautionary approach.  

• The policy would be in line with the FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries on conservation, development and management of fisheries.  
• Some of the provisions of the policy are – 

• • Monitoring, Control and surveillance (to prevent accidents and trespassing) 
  • Chip-based smart registration cards for fishermen and their fishing vessels would be introduced.  
  • Training and awareness would be given to fishermen to avoid crossing the International marine boundary line (IMBL).
  • Integrated approach on fisheries management
  • Species-specific and area-specific management plans with spatial and temporal measures for sustainable utilization of resources.  
  • Conservation of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs), endangered species etc. 
  •  It would blend traditional knowledge and scientific business principles. 
  • Use of Information technology and space technology for improving the capacities of the fishing community.
  • Traditional Use Rights for Fisheries 
  • Government would also introduce schemes to skill traditional fishers. 

• Commercializing Fisheries

• • Fisheries Data and Research – Government would implement a National Marine Fisheries Data Acquisition Plan with all stakeholders.  
  • Mariculture – Government will encourage schemes to set up mariculture farms/parks and setting up of hatcheries for supply of seed for development of the sector. 
  • There would also be a focus on preventing post-harvest losses.  
  • Island Fisheries – India’s islands would promote in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ).  
  • Fisheries Trade – Government would focus on diversifying trade market, harmonizing FSSAI standards with international bodies, reducing the influence of middlemen and ecolabelling of fishes.  
  • Entrepreneurship development, private investment, public private partnership for marine fisheries sector will be encouraged.  
  • Government with the help of NABARD will provide institutional credit to the fishers. 

• Review and periodically evaluate existing marine protected areas (MPAs).  
• It would provide legislative support to ensure tenure rights of traditional fishermen so that their livelihood is not affected by conservation measures. 

Significance 

• Monitoring and surveillance will ensure that Indian fishing fleet do not engage in ‘Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated’ (IUU) fishing.  
• Women SHGs would be promoted in the women dominated post harvest sector of fisheries.  
• The policy will promote SDG Goal 14 of conserving and sustainably using Oceans, Seas and Marine resources for Sustainable development.  
• It would help in boosting the primary sector of our economy.

B Meenakumari Committee on deep sea fishing 

• Allow fishing in the EEZ – between 22 km and 370 km beyond territorial waters – for vessels with a length of 15 metres or more by getting a “letter of permission” from the Centre.
• These ships can be owned or acquired by Indian entrepreneurs or by joint ventures with up to 49 per cent foreign investment.  
• Create a buffer zone between the near-shore and offshore regions (waters between 200 m and 500 m in depth) along the coast and regulate fishing there “in order to augment resources in the near-shore areas as well as the deep-sea regions in the EEZ”.