Lok Sabha Question No. 3703 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: WTOs New Regulation on Fisheries Sector
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3703 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST   DECEMBER, 2021

## WTOs New Regulation on Fisheries Sector

## 3703.  SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

Will the Minister of  FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has examined the expected impact of World Trade Organisations new regulation on fisheries sector, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government  has agreed with the WTO regulation, if so, the derails thereof;
- (c) the details of prime focuses of Ministerial level Conference (MC 12) of WTO;
- (d) whether the Government has discussed this matter with any of the stakeholders from fisheries sector, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  will  have  proper  discussions  with  the  stakeholders  from  fisheries sector on WTOs proposed regulation on fisheries sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) & (b): In the ongoing negotiations on fisheries subsidies in World Trade Organization (WTO), the  member  countries  including  India  are  participating  as  per  the  mandate  of  the  United  Nations Sustainable  Development  Goals  (UN-SDG)  target  14.6  and  the  WTO  Ministerial  Conference Decision of 2017(MC-11). The scope of ongoing negotiations is limited to marine capture fisheries. Aquaculture  and  inland  fisheries  are  excluded  from  the  scope  of  WTO  Regulation  on  Fisheries subsidies. For securing livelihood of our traditional and small-scale fishermen, India is advocating for appropriate and effective special and differential treatment (S&DT) for the developing countries including least developed countries (LDCs) and has sought policy space to develop and modernize its fisheries sector. The WTO Regulation on Fisheries subsidies is still under negotiation.
- (c):    The  Twelfth  Ministerial  Conference  (MC-12)  of  the  WTO scheduled to  be  held  during  30 th November  to  3 rd December,  2021  has  been  indefinitely  postponed  in  view  of  the  serious epidemiological  situation  that  arose  and  resultant  travel  restrictions  imposed  by  the  authorities concerned.  For  MC12,  issues  of  priority  include  a  permanent  solution  to  public  stockholding  for food  security  purposes;  WTO  Response  to  pandemic,  including  a  temporary  waiver  from  certain provisions  of  the  Agreement  on  Trade  Related  Aspects  of  Intellectual  Property  Rights  (TRIPS); WTO Reforms; and Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations.
- (d)  &  (e):  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  has  constituted  a  Task  Force  on Fisheries  Subsidies  regulations, comprising  representatives  from  all  the  Coastal  States  and  Union Territories,  Department  of  Fisheries  (Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  &  Dairying), Department  of  Commerce  (Ministry  of  Commerce  &  Industry),  Ministry  of  External  Affairs, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Marine Products Export Development Authority, Coast Guard, Center for WTO Studies, etc. to inter alia examine various proposals being discussed in the WTO and to suggest/formulate any proposals for tabling by India in the WTO for negotiations on fisheries subsidies.

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