G/SCM/N/315/COL  
G/SCM/N/343/COL  
1 July 2020 
(20-4568) Page: 1/10 
Committee on Subsidies and   
Countervailing Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
SUBSIDIE S 
NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE XVI:1 OF THE GATT 1994 AND  
ARTICLE 25 OF THE AGREEMENT ON SUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING MEASURES  
COLOMBIA  
The following communication, dated 26 June 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Colombia.  
 
_______________  
 
 
COLOMBIA  
NOTIFICATIONS ON  FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SUBSIDIES  
2016, 2017, 20181 
Background  
In order t o facilitate understanding of the programmes mentioned by Colombia in notifications on 
fisheries subsidies, it is important to note that the National Fishing and Aquaculture  Authority 
(AUNAP), an entity attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Dev elopment, is responsible for  
exercis ing authority over fisheries  and aquaculture in  Colombia. As part of its policy of promotion 
and sustainable development of these resources, it develops  processes for the planning, research , 
management , promotion, regulation, registration, reporting , inspection, sur veillance and control of 
nationwide fisheries  and aquaculture activities .  
AUNAP receives funds  from the national general budget  to carry out these activities , which enables  
it to develop pro grammes that will be of general benefit to the Colombian fisheries  and aquaculture 
sector through the following investment projects.  
1. Updating and implementation of domestic measures for fisheries and aquaculture  
management and development  
The aim  of this programme is the efficient management of the country's fisheries and aquaculture 
sector , taking account of  sectoral and  domestic  needs and legal frameworks , and the  promot ion of  
activities geared towards  the prod uctive, competitive and sustainable development of aquaculture 
and artisanal fish eries. 
 
1 This notification contains information solely concerning fisheries subsidies, in accordance with 
the commitment made in paragraph 2 of the Ministerial Decision of 13 December 2017, adopted at 
the Buenos  Aires Ministerial Conference , held from 10 to 13 December 2017 (WT/MIN(17)/64).  G/SCM/N/315/COL • G/SCM/N/343/COL  
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  2. Development of domestic inspection and surveillance  activities for fisheries and 
aquaculture resources   
The aim is to provide  training to persons who rely on fishing as an economic activity , on the current 
regulations and management measures established  for the country’s fisheries and aquaculture 
resources . In rolling out the programme, AUNAP : 
‐ Establishes and implements  efficient monitoring and control mechanisms within Colombia to 
combat il legal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing ; 
‐ Sets and applies  sanctions  for infringements of regulations  in order to ensure  better  domestic 
compliance ; 
‐ Updates  databases o f landed fishery production  to inform the  develop ment of  relevant 
management measures . 
3. Knowledge development to ensure  the efficient and sustainable domestic use of 
fisheries and aquaculture resources  
The aim is to generate information for decisio n-making as part of the framework for the sustainable 
development of fisheries and aquaculture in the country, through :  
‐ Research aimed at identifying and quantifying fisheries resources, and research seeking t o 
improve technological processes at the stages of extraction, cultivation, processing and 
placement o n the market . 
I. UPDATING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DOMESTIC MEASURES FOR FISHERIES AND 
AQUACULTURE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT  
1. Programme  description : 
The aim is the efficient management of the country's fisheries and aquaculture sector, taking account 
of sectoral and domestic  needs and legal frameworks, and the promotion of activities geared towards 
the productive, competitive and sustainable development  of aquaculture and artisanal  fisheries. 
This involves : 
‐ In each of the AUNAP region s, provid ing training for pe rsons  engaged in fishing and  aquaculture 
on the rules and procedures for such activities ; 
‐ Processing  registration s, the granting of fishing  permits, authorizations or patents, and changes 
to or cancellations of permits;  
‐ Producing fingerlings in AUNAP stations and centres to support fish-breeding and restocking 
programmes ;  
‐ Improving  fisheries management processes ; 
‐ Promo ting inter -institutional agreements with public or private entities or other organizations  in 
order to create collaborative spaces that will lead to technical and logistical efforts being 
combined in the management of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.  
The programme sp ecifically aims to transform artisanal fisheries into a sustainable sector. Steps 
taken as part of this programme to promote artisanal fisheries w ere aimed at strengthening the 
coastal marine and inland fisheries sector, with the provision  of equipment, inputs  or elements, such  
as outboard motors, boats, best -practice kits  for fish-handling, freezers, scales and fishing gear.  
 G/SCM/N/315/COL • G/SCM/N/343/COL  
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  2. Periods covered by  the notifica tion: 
January –December  2016 
January –December 2017 
January –December 2018 
3. Policy objective and/or purpose  of the support  
To establish, update and implement management and promotion measures that lead to the 
sustainable domestic use of fisher ies and aquaculture resources, taking account of sectoral and 
domestic  needs and legal framework s, and the promotion of activities geared towards the 
productive, competitive and sustainable development of aquaculture and artisanal fisheries.  
4. Background and authority for the support   
‐ National Development Plan govern ing each four -year government period and establishing policy 
guidelines for developing the country’s fisher y and aquaculture activities.  
‐ Law No. 13 of 1990 - General Law on the Fi sheries  Sector and its Regulatory Decre e No.  2256 
of 1991.  
‐ Decree No. 4181 of  2011 establishing AUNAP . 
5. Form  of support  
The programme  is funded through the national general budget resources allocated to AUNAP  for the 
development of general benefit programmes, with a view to : 
‐ Promoting measures  aimed at the productive, competitive and sustai nable  development of 
aquaculture;  
‐ Promoting measures  aimed at the productive, competitive and sustainable development of 
artisanal fisheries. 
6. Support per unit  
The attached file contains  the annual budget allocated to the programme.  
7. Duration of support  
January –December 2016 
January –December 2017 
January –December 2018 
8. Statistical data on the impact of the programme  
This information is not available for any of the notified periods.  
II. DEVELOP MENT OF DOMESTIC INSPECTION AND SURVEILLANCE  ACTIVITIES FOR 
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE RESOURCES  
1. Program me description : 
This programme seeks to increase sector stakeholder s' knowledge of fishery activity regulations  that 
foster  a well-managed , sustainable use of fisher ies and aquaculture  resources . This involves:  G/SCM/N/315/COL • G/SCM/N/343/COL  
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  ‐ Establishing  efficient  mechanisms for the control of illegal, u nreported and unregulated (IUU)  
fishing , in compl iance with the FAO International Plan of Action and  in coo peration  with t he 
General Maritime Directorate  of Colombia (in charge of  the Port State ), the aim being  to prevent , 
deter and eliminat e such practice s; 
‐ The programme includes the imposition of sanctions  for failure to comply with domestic  and 
international standards  promoting the sustainable use of resources.  
The programme focuses on implementing the following components : 
Raising  public awareness  of regulations and  measures for managing the country's 
fisheries and aquaculture  resources . Efforts have been made to raise awareness and 
disseminate current management, administrative and control measures , with a view  to 
strengthen ing the control  and surveillance system at governance level. 
Establishing  efficient monitoring and control mechanisms within Colombia to combat 
illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing . Provision has been made  for inspection and 
surveillance operations, the publication of a general fish eries register on the AUNAP website, and 
the dissemination , in the regions , of mechanisms for formal ly lodging complaints regarding  illegal 
fishing , such as, for example, the early warning system in the exclusive fishing zone for artisanal 
fisheries in northern  Chocó.  
Setting  and applying sanctions  for infringements of regulations in order to ensure better 
domestic compliance. Following inspection and surveillance operations, admin istrative 
investigations are opened where necessary . 
Updating databases o f landed fishery production to facili tate the develop ment of  domestic 
management measures. The aim is to complement the information generation process and comply 
with core objectives relat ing to the strengthening of the country's fisheries and aquaculture s tatistics 
(collection , analysis and systemization of data on catch and landing, maturity stages, fishing gear 
and aquaculture production) and their inclusion in the Colombian Statistical Fisheries Service 
(SEPEC) platform.  
2. Periods covered by the notifica tion: 
January –December 2016 
January –December 2017 
January –December 2018 
3. Policy objective and/or purpose  of the support  
The aim of the programme is to ensure that sector stakeholders effectively implement domestic 
measures for the management of fisher ies and aquaculture resources.  
To achieve this, training on current regulations and measures established for the management of 
the country’s fisheries and aquaculture resources is provided to persons  who rely on fishing as an 
economic activity . 
4. Background and legislation for the support  
Domestic regulatory frame work: 
‐ National Development Plan govern ing each four -year government period and establish ing policy 
guidelines for developing the country’s fishery and aquaculture activities.  
‐ Law No. 13 of 1990 - General Law on the Fisheries Sector and its Regulatory Decree No.  2256 
of 1991.  G/SCM/N/315/COL • G/SCM/N/343/COL  
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  ‐ Decree No. 4181 of 2011 establishing AUNAP.  
International guidelines : 
‐ Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,  Convention on Biological Diversity, 
and Unite d Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea . The latter is used for reference  purposes 
by Colombia, as it is not bindin g and its application is voluntary.  
5. Form of support  
The programme is funded through the national general budget resources allocated to AUNAP for the 
development of general benefit programmes, with a view to : 
‐ Raising  public awareness  of regulations and measures for  managing the country's fisheries and 
aquacu lture resources ; 
‐ Establishing efficient monitoring and control mechanisms within Colombia to combat illegal, 
unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing;  
‐ Setting  and applying sanctions  for infringements of regulations in order to ensure better 
domestic compli ance;  
‐ Updating databases o f landed fishery production in order to provide information to facilitate the 
development of domestic management measures.  
6. Support per unit  
The attached file contains  the annual budget allocated to the programme.  
7. Duration of support  
January –December 2016 
January –December 2017 
January –December 2018 
8. Statistical data on the impact of the programme  
No information is available for any of the notified periods . 
III. KNOWLEDGE DEVE LOPMENT TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE 
DOMESTIC USE OF FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE RESOURCES  
1. Programme description : 
The programme aims to contribute to the sustained development of the fisheries and aquaculture 
sector , ensuring  the rational use of exploited resources , which requires conducting  research to 
identify and quantify  such resources.  
The programme is designed as a strategic tool to fill the existing information gaps on the population 
and ecosystem dynamics of the fisheries r esources that are currently being exploited in marine and 
inland areas.  
This calls for  appropriate  intervention  by AUNAP , from the planning through to the execution stage . 
A foundation  of scientific evidence  must be built to ensure that any decision s made  benefit the user 
communities, institutions and authorities involved, without  neglecting the pursuit of  economic, 
environmental, social, cultural and biological sustainability of resources. This involves:  G/SCM/N/315/COL • G/SCM/N/343/COL  
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  ‐ Developing  production management prog rammes , strengthening monitoring measures , 
assessing  the impact of fishing gear and methods used, and analys ing the shark production chain 
and the impact of the ZEPA exclusive fishing zone for a rtisanal  fisheries on the conservation of 
fisher ies resource s; 
‐ Fisheries and socioeconomic profiling  for the purposes of fisheries management ; 
‐ Assessing the impact  of fishing gear and methods used in the Magdalena Medio region , 
Magdalena River Basin and Orino co Basin, with a view to updating regulations , given current 
fishery dynamics ; 
‐ Research into demersal marine resources, generat ing information on the biological 
characteristics  of these fishery resources  for use as a tool in manag ing them in marine waters 
under Colombian jurisdiction;  
‐ Biological m onitoring, in ports and fishing zones and on board vessels , of fishery resources  in 
the main industrial and artisanal marine  fisheries of the Pacific coast and the Caribbean , and in 
the inland areas of  the Magdalena -Cauca , Sinú, Atrato, Catatumbo, Orinoco and Amazon ian river 
basins in  Colombia ;  
‐ Research into native and exotic species in marine and inland aquaculture and development of 
new production technologies;  
‐ Conducting a r isk an d vulnerability assessment  of elasmobranchs  and analysing the shark 
production chain and  the impact of the ZEPA exclusive fishing zone for artisanal fisheries on the 
conservation of fisheries resources.  
2. Periods covered by the notifica tion: 
January –December 2016 
January –December 2017 
January –December 2018 
3. Policy objective and/or purpose  of the support  
The efficient and sustainable use of fisheries resources and the development of aquaculture in 
Colombia . 
4. Background and legislation for the sup port 
‐ National Development Plan governing  each four -year government period and establishing policy 
guidelines for developing the country’s fishery and aquaculture activities.  
‐ Law No. 13 of 1990 - General Law on the Fisheries Sector and its Regulatory Decree No.  2256 
of 1991.  
‐ Decree No. 4181 of 2011 establishing AUNAP.  
5. Form  of support  
Development of general benefit programmes aimed at : 
‐ Developing technologies to optimize aquaculture and fish ery yields in a sustainable manner 
nationwide;  
‐ Assessing and updating the state, fishing effort and dynamics of domestic fishery resources 
and/or fisheries to ensure sustainable management and administration;  G/SCM/N/315/COL • G/SCM/N/343/COL  
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  ‐ Developing and implementing information and commun ication technology tools for knowledge 
and monitoring of fisheries and aquaculture resources;  
‐ Establishing the potential use of fisheries and aquaculture resources , irrespective of the type of 
activity, in order to seek alternative uses and ensure the development of the subsector.  
6. Support per unit  
The attached file contains  the annual budget allocated to the programme . 
7. Duration of support  
January –December 2016 
January –December 2017 
January –December 2018 
8. Statistical data on the impact of the programme  
This information is not available for any of the notified periods . 
  G/SCM/N/315/COL • G/SCM/N/343/COL  
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  ANNEXES 
I. UPDATING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DOMESTIC MEASURES FOR FISHERIES AND 
AQUACULTURE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT  
Support per unit  
Program me: Production and marketing infrastructure   
ACTIVI TIES  Budgeted amount  
(COP2) – 2016  Budgeted amount  
(COP3) – 2017  Budgeted 
amount  
(COP4) – 2018  
Efficiently manag ing the country's fisheries and aquaculture sector, taking account of current 
sectoral and domestic  needs and legal frameworks  
Issuing  administrativ e decisions,  certifica tes 
and registrations for fish eries and 
aquaculture activities . 932,500,000 1,745,000,000 
 3,274,169,053 
 
Estab lishing priority -area fisheries 
management.  269,500,000 0 0 
Taking priority -area fisheries management 
measure s. 198,000,000 200,000,000 200,000,000 
Regist ering and monitoring fish eries and 
aquaculture activities.  280,500,000 200,000,000 200,000,000 
 
Providing training on and disseminating 
rules and procedures for fis heries  and 
aquaculture activities . 417,500,000 350,000,000 
 200,000,000 
 
Strengthening inter-institutional 
coordination in implementing fish eries and 
aquaculture policies.  144,500,000 
 50,000,000 
 200,000,000 
 
Defining aquaculture and fisheries zones.  269,500,000 0 0 
Producing fingerlings in AUNAP stations and 
centres to support domestic fish -breeding 
and restocking programmes.  1,789,000,000 1,575,000,000 4,000,000,000 
Conducting  national promotional activities 
on aquaculture topics.  0 4,800,000,000 7,000,000,000  
Advising, training and building the capacities 
of limited -resource aquaculture producers 
and micro and small aquaculture enterprises 
in several  regions in Colombia  (only the 
Colombian Caribbean  is included in the SPI).  450,000,000 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
Promot ing activities geared towards the productive, competitive and sustainable development of 
artisanal fisheries  
Taking steps to improve product quality and 
strengthen  partnerships in inland fish ery 
activities on the Magdalena river.  608,569,400 
 0 
 0 
 
Engaging in alternative activities to artisanal 
fishing in closed fishing seasons to ensure 
food security for fishing communities.  341,086,400 
 0 
 0 
 
Strengthening domestic coastal marine 
fisher y activities .   0 4,650,000,000 15,500,000,000 
Strengthening domestic inland artisanal 
fishery activities.  0 1,650,000,000 8,000,000,000 
TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET   5,700,655,800 15,220,000,000 38,574,169,053 
 
 
 
2 Colombian pesos . 
3 Colombian pesos . 
4 Colombian pesos . G/SCM/N/315/COL • G/SCM/N/343/COL  
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  II. DEVELOPMENT OF DOMESTIC INSPECTION AND SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES FOR 
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE RESOURCES  
Support per unit  
Program me: Agricultural health and agri -food safety  
ACTIVI TIES  Budgeted amount  
(COP) – 2016  Budgeted amount  
(COP) – 2017  Budgeted 
amount  
(COP) – 2018  
Raising  public awareness  of regulations and measures for managing fisheries and aquaculture  
resources  
Training programme  on regulations and 
management measures : Deliver ed to 
persons engaged in fish ing and aquaculture 
activities – Nationwide training.  480,000,000 250,000,000 960,000,000  
Outreach and promotion campaign : 
Dissemina tion through mass media.  270,900,000 172,500,000  262,307,189 
Establishing efficient monitoring and control mechanisms within Colombia to combat illegal, 
unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing  
Control measures taken  in the fisheries and 
aquaculture sector nationwide : Verif ication 
of compliance with fisheries regulations – 
Making p rovision for seized material.  2,576,490,000 1,500,000,000  1,122,185,000  
Database analyses  and updating . 100,650,000 90,000,000 300,000,000 
Drawing up proposals and issuing 
admin istrative decisions . 60,000,000 25,000,000 57,500,000 
Analysing , monitoring and suppo rting the 
AUNAP integrated management system .  187,000,000 203,500,000 176,525,000 
Setting  and applying sanctions  for infringements of regulations in order to ensure better domestic 
compliance  
Generating  orders opening proceedings or  
prohibition orders , gathering and examining 
evidence and issuing administrative 
decision s. 300,000,000 200,000,000 431,135,000 
Updating databases o f landed fishery production to facili tate the development of domestic 
management measures  
Socioeconomic data on fish eries activities 
collected in landing ports.  941,536,364 776,833,340 560,000,000 
Biological fishery data . 635,990,909 177,166,660 550,000,000 
Catch and effort  data. 1,163,936,203 75,000,000 550,000,000 
Fishery production data.  1,283,496,524 30,000,000 550,000,000 
TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET   8,000,000,000 3,500,000,000 5,519,652,189 
 
  G/SCM/N/315/COL • G/SCM/N/343/COL  
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  III. KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE 
DOMESTIC USE OF FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE RESOURCES  
Support per  unit 
Program me: Agricultural science, technology and innovation  
ACTIVI TIES  Budgeted amount  
(COP) – 2016  Budgeted amount  
(COP) – 2017  Budgeted 
amount  
(COP) – 2018  
Develop ing technolog ies to optimize  aquaculture and fish ery yields  in a sustainable manner 
nationwide  
Preparing papers , publica tions, databases  
and/or technical do cuments . 40,000,000 20,000,000 50,000,000 
Conducting scientific trials, experiments or 
tests in order to improve quality and 
efficiency in  the breeding , larval fish culture, 
cultivation, health and processing  of 
commercial species; and/or assessing the 
aquaculture potential of new native species by 
furthering the development of technological 
packages, through strategic alliances .  1,506,200,000 977,750,000 1,509,250,000 
Assess ing and updat ing the stat e, fishing effort and dynamics of domestic fis hery resources  and/or 
fisheries to ensure  sustainable management and administration  
Obtaining technical and scientific informa tion 
on the target catch and bycatch of the 
country's various fisheries , with on -board and 
in-port monitoring depending on the scale  of 
the fishing  activity , through strategic 
alliances.  1,925,000,000 1,240,209,270  1,511,150,000 
Analysing historical i nforma tion on the state 
of fisheries resources.   1,508,000,000 960,500,000 1,125,750,000 
Preparing paper s, publications, databases 
and/or technical documents . 40,000,000 60,000,000 40,000,000 
Enhancing  understanding  of the social and economic dynamics of fisher s and fish farmers , to enable 
the provision of national guidelines  on resource  administration and management  
Creating basic guidelines by working with the 
community and with primary and secondary 
sources of information that contribut e to the 
determination of sociocultural and 
socioeconomic indicators.  484,000,000  496,250,000  181,351,666 
Preparing paper s, publications, databases 
and/or technical documents.  20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 
Develop ing and implement ing information and communication technology tools for knowledge and 
monitoring of fisheries and aquaculture resources  
Determining  technological requirements for 
information and communication 
systems/implementing information and 
communication technolog y tools.  768,500,000 337,750,000 388,574,438 
Establ ishing the potential use of fisheries and aquaculture resources , irrespective of the type of 
activity, in order to seek alternative uses and ensure the development of the subsector at the 
national level   
Preparing paper s, publications, databases 
and/or technical documents.  20,000,000 20,000,000 30,000,000 
Independent scientific research into the 
fisheries sector in the Caribbean mainland 
and islands  and in the Pacific.  687,500,000  553,000,000  433,500,000  
TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET   6,999,200,000 4,685,459,270 5,289,576,104 
 
 
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