Lok Sabha Question No. 612 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 612 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 FEBRUARY, 2026

## WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

## 612.     Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth:

Will  the  Minister  of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement propose to address the serious issue of overfishing and depletion of global fish stocks and the leadership role of the Government intend India to play in ensuring sustainability without harming domestic fishing communities;
- (b)  the  details  of  assessment  has  been  conducted  by  the  Government  on  the implications of this agreement for India's food security, protein availability and nutritional needs of coastal and inland populations dependent on affordable fish consumption;
- (c) the reasons why the Government has not placed the full text, impact assessments and negotiation  positions  related  to  the WTO  Fisheries  Subsidies  Agreement  in  the public domain and the transparency and parliamentary oversight mechanisms exist;
- (d) the manner in which the WTO Committee on Fisheries Subsidies practically ensure compliance,  monitor  notifications  submitted  by  the  member  countries  and  prevent manipulation or under reporting of harmful subsidies by powerful fishing nations; and
- (e) the enforcement mechanisms and penalties exist for countries that fail to comply with the agreement's provisions and extent to which the Government ensure that these rules are applied uniformly rather than selectively against weaker nations?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a) & (b): The World Trade Organisation-Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (WTO-FSA) seeks to address overfishing and depletion of global fish stocks by prohibiting harmful subsidies.  The  negotiations  on  the  WTO-FSA  have  been  primarily  on  three  pillars, namely, (i) Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, (ii) overfished stocks, and (iii) Overfishing and Overcapacity (OCOF). The WTO-FSA as adopted during the 12 th Ministerial  Conference  on  17 th   June  2022,  became  the  first  WTO  Agreement  with environmental sustainability as its primary objective. However, the WTO-FSA (phase-I) inter alia contains disciplines limited to subsidies related to two pillars, namely, the IUU fishing and the overfished stocks. Whereas, a comprehensive Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies  including  the  disciplines  related  to  third  pillar,  i.e.,  'OCOF'  is  still  under negotiation in the WTO.

The WTO negotiations on Fisheries Subsidies including OCOF pillar continued during the 13 th  Ministerial Conference held in February, 2024, wherein India has reiterated its long-held positions that responsible and sustainable fisheries is a practice ingrained in the ethos and practices of India's large and varied fishing community. In that context, any comprehensive agreement on Fisheries subsidies should keep in mind the interests and welfare of the fishing community that depends on the marine resources for their livelihood  and  sustenance.  India  stressed  that  historically,  while  subsidies  to  the industrial fleets in fisheries sector has led to over exploitation, subsidies are also vital for developing countries and small economies to develop and diversify their fisheries sector as well as to protect the food security and livelihood security of their fishermen. This negotiation is linked to the concept of sustainability and  as such, any comprehensive agreement on fisheries subsidies should be built on the principles of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR- RC). It should also incorporate the provisions of Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) appropriately,  as  is  the  case  for  all  WTO  agreements.  India  urged  the  Members  to introduce a moratorium on subsidies by Distant Water Fishing Nations for fishing or fishing related activities beyond their EEZs for a period of at least 25 years. (c) The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is available in the public domain on the official website of the World Trade Organization. India's negotiating positions have been articulated  through  inter-ministerial  consultations,  including  consultations  with  the coastal States and Union Territories, and inputs received from the relevant stakeholders. (d)  The  WTO  Committee  on  Fisheries  Subsidies  oversees  implementation  of  the Agreement through notification requirements and regular reporting. Any Member can request additional information from the notifying Member regarding such notifications and information provided. (e) The Agreement provides for dispute settlement mechanism for consultations and discriminatory application of the Agreement for all Members. India continues to actively engage in the WTO to ensure that the rules are applied in a fair, transparent and uniform settlement  of  disputes.  This  mechanism  is  designed  to  ensure  objective  and  nonmanner.

*****