IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 814 

Encouraging the elimination of fishing subsidies that contribute to overcapacity in the world’s commercial fishing fleets and lead to overfishing 

of global fish stocks. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 9, 2007 

Mr. KIND (for himself and Mr. BRADY of Texas) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 

RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the elimination of fishing subsidies that contribute to overcapacity in the world’s commercial fishing 

fleets and lead to overfishing of global fish stocks. 

Whereas 2,600,000,000 people in the world get at least 20 

percent of their total dietary animal protein intake from 

fish; 

Whereas the Food and Agriculture Organization of the 

United Nations has found that 75 percent of the world’s 

fisheries are currently overexploited, fully exploited, significantly depleted, or recovering from overexploitation; 

Whereas countries throughout the world are currently being 

forced to deal with the negative social and economic consequences that result from the overexploitation of crucial 

fisheries stocks; 


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Whereas the global fishing fleet capacity is estimated to be 

considerably greater than is needed to catch what the 

ocean can sustainably produce; 

Whereas the United States Congress recognized the threat of 

overfishing to our oceans and economy and therefore included the requirement to end overfishing in United 

States commercial fisheries by 2011 in the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006; 

Whereas the United States Commission on Ocean Policy and 

the Pew Oceans Commission identified overcapitalization 

of the global commercial fishing fleets as a major contributor to the decline of economically important fish populations; 

Whereas the United Nations Code of Conduct for Responsible 

Fishing clearly articulates that the United States and all 

countries should take actions to prevent overfishing and 

excess fishing capacity; 

Whereas scientific studies indicate that subsidies result in 

fishing activity that is beyond biologically sustainable limits; 

Whereas harmful fishing subsidies encourage overcapitalization and overfishing, support destructive fishing practices 

that would not otherwise be economically viable, and 

amount to at least $20,000,000,000 annually, an amount 

equivalent to approximately 25 percent of the global commercial trade in fish; 

Whereas harmful fishing subsidies are concentrated in relatively few countries, putting other fishing countries, including the United States, at an economic disadvantage; 


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Whereas the scope and magnitude of global fisheries subsidies 

are so massive that eliminating subsidies that contribute 

to increasing capacity is one of the most significant actions that can be taken to help reverse the decline in 

global fish stocks; 

Whereas new multilateral trade rules on subsidies that distort 

production, trade and the sustainability of fisheries resources are necessary to restore global fish stocks to sustainable levels; 

Whereas it is essential that the United States continue to be 

a world leader in advancing policies to eliminate fishing 

subsidies that promote overcapacity and overfishing; 

Whereas the United States has represented to the World 

Trade Organization that a broad prohibition addressing 

all elements that support fishing capacity is needed to 

clarify and improve the international trade rules on subsidies; and 

Whereas members of the World Trade Organization, as part 

of the Doha Development Agenda (Doha Development 

Round), are engaged in historic negotiations to end 

harmful fishing subsidies that contribute to overcapacity 

and overfishing: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives urge the 

2 United States to seek, in the Doha Development Round 

3 negotiations, effective multilateral agreements to prohibit 

4 fishing subsidies that promote— 

5 (1) overcapitalization; 

6 (2) overfishing; and 


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1 (3) illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing. 

Æ 


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