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Current approaches for addressing overfishing flawed: India at the WTO

Current approaches for addressing overfishing flawed: India at the WTO

  • India urged the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to introduce a moratorium on subsidies by Distant Water Fishing Nations
  • It was for fishing related activities beyond their exclusive economic zone (EEZs) for a period of at least 25 years.

Key Highlights

  • This came during the WTO negotiation session on fisheries subsidies in the ongoing Abu Dhabi Ministerial Conference-13
  • During the negotiations, India 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 fisheries sector has led to over exploitation
    • Subsidies are also vital for developing countries and small economies to develop
    • Diversify their fisheries sector as well as to protect the food and livelihood security of their fishermen.
  • The ministry added that the 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,
  • There is an urgent case for capturing non-specific fuel subsidies and transfer of fishing rights to corporate fishing under Government to Government (G2G) payments within the ambit of the disciplines.
  • Since the members had agreed to using the affirmative determination approach for negotiating disciplines on the overfished pillar
  • There was no reason why the members should not use the same approach in relation to the OCOF pillar.
  • India reiterated that the sovereign rights of members for sustainable management of fisheries within their EEZs
    • As provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) should be duly recognized and protected, the ministry added.

Prelims Takeaway

  • UNCLOS
  • WTO

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