The WTO and Fisheries Subsidies: Progress and Prospects

After more than two decades of negotiations, the World Trade Organization achieved a historic milestone in 2022 with the adoption of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. This landmark treaty represents the first global, legally binding framework specifically targeting subsidies that undermine sustainable fishing practices. The agreement entered into force on September 15, 2025, following ratification by two-thirds of WTO members.

The Agreement—commonly referred to as "Fish 1"—establishes critical disciplines prohibiting subsidies to vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, subsidies for fishing of overfished stocks where rebuilding measures are absent, and subsidies for unregulated fishing on the high seas. With over 35% of marine fish stocks currently overfished, these rules address situations where government support most acutely threatens marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of vulnerable fishing communities.

Implementation preparations are now underway, supported by a dedicated WTO funding mechanism providing technical assistance to developing countries. Governments will need to assess their domestic situation with regards to the new rules, identifying necessary domestic policy adjustments and capacity-building needs to align with their new legal obligations. Strong national implementation efforts will be crucial to ensuring that the Agreement leads to healthier marine resources and more secure livelihoods.

Importantly, the WTO's work also remains incomplete. Members committed in 2022 to negotiate additional disciplines—so-called "Fish 2"—to address the root cause of subsidized overfishing more comprehensively. These ongoing negotiations aim to establish broader rules preventing subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing before stocks reach alarming levels. Significant progress has been made towards agreeing on this second set of rules, but more effort will be needed to cross the finish line, particularly in the current challenging environment for multilateral cooperation.

This presentation will examine the progress achieved so far in WTO work on fisheries subsidies and highlight the required next steps to ensure that new global rules deliver on their potential to promote more sustainable fisheries and enhance marine biodiversity protection for generations to come.