WTO Pact Concerns for Small Fisher Bodies

WTO Pact Concerns for Small Fisher Bodies

Sub: Eco

Sec: External sector

• Background:
  • Small-scale fisher organizations from India, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Gambia, and Indonesia have raised concerns about the WTO’s comprehensive agreement on curbing overcapacity and overfishing (OCOF) subsidies.
  • They believe this agreement will have serious implications for their future and that of indigenous communities worldwide.
• Demand:
  • These organizations demand that subsidy negotiations be kept out of the WTO.
  • They propose that such negotiations be handled by the Committee of Fisheries under the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Sub-Committee on Trade, which they argue has the requisite expertise.
• Special and Differential Treatment:
  • A major concern is the limited special and differential treatment provisions in the draft agreement, which offer exemptions for small-scale fishing in developing countries.
  • They fear the definition and application of these exemptions may not adequately protect small-scale fishers.
• Challenges:
  • There are concerns about how “small-scale fishers” are defined, ensuring that exempted activities do not become industrialized.
• Organizations Involved:
  • The World Forum of Fisher Peoples and the World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers represent national organizations of traditional small-scale fishing communities, including those in India.
• Current Status:
  • The issue was highlighted at the recent Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Summit and Committee on Fisheries meeting in Rome.
  • The fisher organizations are actively seeking to shift negotiations to an entity with more relevant expertise, such as the FAO’s Sub-Committee on Trade.

Implications:

• Economic Impact: The potential impact on the livelihoods of small-scale fishers if the WTO agreement goes through as currently drafted.
• Policy Influence: The role of specialized bodies like the FAO’s Sub-Committee on Trade in handling fisheries-related negotiations.
• Global Fisheries Management: The broader implications for global fisheries management practices and sustainability.

Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) – Key Points

The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) addressing significant issues related to overcapacity, overfishing, and illegal fishing practices.

Agreement Details

• Provisions:
  • Prohibits subsidies for Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfished stocks.
  • Bans subsidies for fishing on high seas outside the jurisdiction of coastal countries and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations.
• Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT):
  • Developing Countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) get a two-year transition period to comply with the agreement.
• Exemptions:
  • No prohibition on subsidies if the vessel or operator is not engaged in IUU fishing.
  • Subsidies for overfished stocks allowed if aimed at rebuilding stocks to sustainable levels.

Benefits of the Agreement

• Eliminates Harmful Subsidies:
  • Targets subsidies to vessels/operators involved in IUU fishing.
• Supports Coastal Countries:
  • Reduces large-scale IUU fishing, protecting fisheries resources and livelihoods.

India’s Stand on AFS

• Minimal Fisheries Subsidies:
  • Despite its large population, India provides minimal subsidies compared to advanced fishing nations.
• Sustainable Practices:
  • India’s fisheries sector relies on small-scale and traditional fishers, practicing sustainable resource utilization.
• Principles for Obligations:
  • Advocates for higher obligations on nations historically providing large subsidies and engaging in industrial fishing, adhering to ‘polluter pay principle’ and ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’.