The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: FAO’s support to Members in its implementation
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The entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies represents a major development in global efforts to align trade policy with sustainable resource management, introducing binding disciplines on subsidies contributing to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, overfished stocks and unregulated high-seas activities. Implementing these disciplines requires substantial national adjustments, including the clarification of legal mandates, the strengthening of institutions responsible for monitoring and enforcement, and the improvement of data systems needed to assess stock status and verify compliance. The Agreement is supported by the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism, which provides targeted technical assistance to developing and least developed countries that have formally accepted the instrument. FAO plays a central role in helping Members operationalize these new obligations by offering guidance grounded in international fisheries instruments, scientific advice on stock assessments, and capacity development across legal, institutional and technical areas. FAO also contributes to WTO processes, including advisory work under the Fish Fund and engagement in discussions on additional disciplines related to overcapacity and overfishing. As Members navigate the transition toward subsidy regimes consistent with sustainable fisheries management, the interaction between national regulatory reforms, scientific capabilities and coordinated inter-agency processes will remain decisive for the Agreement’s long-term effectiveness.