Lok Sabha Question No. 631 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: WTO Agreement
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 631 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 RD  FEBRUARY, 2026

## WTO Agreement

## 631. Shri Manickam Tagore B:

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

- (a) whether the Government has not ratify the World Trade Organisation-Agreement on  Fisheries  Subsidies  (WTO-FSA)  despite  repeated  assurances,  thereby  leaving millions of Indian fisherman uncertain, vulnerable to global market pressures and exposed to unfair competition from heavily subsidised foreign fishing fleet, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the manner in which the Government assess the likely impact of the WTO-FSA on India's domestic fishing industry, particularly small-scale and traditional fishermen and the concrete safeguards are being put in place to protect their livelihoods;
- (c) the reasons for Government accept an international framework where developed countries are effectively allowed to continue historic and capacity-enhancing subsidies, while  developing  countries  like  India  face  restrictions  that  limit  growth  and  livelihood security; and
- (d) the  detailed  plan  of  the  Government  to  ensure  that  the  WTO  Fish  Fund meaningfully  benefits  Indian  fishermen,  including  eligibility  criteria,  fund  allocation mechanisms and timelines  for  disbursement,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):  The  negotiations  on  the World  Trade Organisation-Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (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 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., 'Overfishing  and  Overcapacity'  is  still  under  negotiation  in  the  WTO.  The  WTO negotiations on Fisheries Subsidies took place 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.

India has not accepted any such framework or proposal with regard to WTO fisheries subsidies  including  subsidies  related  to  OCOF  that  allows  developed  countries  to continue historic and capacity-enhancing subsidies, while developing countries like India may face restrictions that limit growth and livelihood security. The Government of India remains committed to safeguard the interests of small-scale and traditional fishers, and has been advocating in the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations that countries with large historic subsidies and industrial fishing fleets should bear greater responsibility, in line with the principles of polluter pays and common but differentiated responsibilities.

(d)   The WTO Fish Fund is intended to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to developing and least-developed countries for the implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

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