The World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (Agreement) entered into force on 15 September 2025. The WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, signed the official depositary notification of the Agreement’s entry into force and handed it to General Council Chair, Ambassador Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel of Saudi Arabia, marking its formal integration into the WTO legal framework. The Protocol of Amendment inserted it into Annex 1A of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO. This “landmark” Agreement seeks to curb specific categories of harmful subsidies that have long contributed to overfishing and the depletion of marine fish stocks.
Adopted at the WTO’s Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022, the Agreement prohibits subsidies that: (i) Support illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; (ii) Encourage fishing over overexploited stocks; and (iii) Enable unregulated fishing in the high seas beyond national jurisdictions.
Its provisions include Article 3.1: No Member shall grant or maintain any subsidy to a vessel or operator engaged in IUU fishing or fishing-related activities in support of IUU fishing. Article 4.1: No Member shall grant or maintain subsidies for fishing or fishing-related activities concerning an overfished stock. Article 5.1: Members shall not grant or maintain subsidies for fishing or fishing-related activities outside the jurisdiction of a coastal Member or a coastal non-Member, and outside the competence of a relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisation or Arrangement (RFMO/A).
The Agreement’s entry into force was made possible by ratifications from over two-thirds of WTO members, including Brazil, Kenya, Vietnam, and Tonga.
At a time when the international trading system faces profound challenges, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sends a powerful signal that WTO members can work together in a spirit of cooperation and shared responsibility to deliver solutions to global challenges. The entry into force of this Agreement stands as a reminder that many of the biggest challenges we face are more effectively addressed at the multilateral level. People and nations need a multilateralism that delivers – which is why today is so reassuring. WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Manuel Barange, also welcomed the Agreement, noting that “fisheries provide food, improve nutrition, and support livelihoods, and the world cannot afford to subsidise practices that compromise the long-term benefits of the sector.” The FAO committed to supporting the implementation of the Agreement through technical assistance and capacity development, particularly for Global South countries.
Nonetheless, pertinent questions have been raised about the Agreement’s ability to address the root causes of overfishing. Vahini Naidu argues that the Agreement is partial in scope, as it omits broader categories of capacity-enhancing subsidies that drive overcapacity and fish stock depletion. Its obligations rely on national determinations and extensive notifications, which may prove burdensome for Global South Members while allowing major subsidisers to retain flexibility.
The success of the Agreement will depend on effective implementation, adequate support for affected communities, and continuous monitoring and adaptation to emerging challenges. As the world continues to grapple with the impacts of overfishing, the Agreement provides a framework for collective action and underscores the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing pressing global environmental challenges.
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