**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 631 in the Lok Sabha regarding the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, to be answered on February 3rd, 2026. It addresses concerns about the ratification, impact, and benefits of the WTO-FSA for Indian fishermen. The document outlines India's position and actions related to the WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **WTO-FSA Pillars**: Negotiations on the WTO-FSA have primarily focused on three pillars:
* Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
* Overfished stocks.
* Overfishing and Overcapacity (OCOF).
* **Current Status of WTO-FSA**: The WTO-FSA adopted in June 2022 includes disciplines limited to subsidies related to IUU fishing and overfished stocks.
* **Negotiations on Overfishing and Overcapacity**: A comprehensive agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, including disciplines related to 'Overfishing and Overcapacity,' is still under negotiation within the WTO. The negotiations took place during the 13th Ministerial Conference held in February 2024.
* **India's Stance**: India has reiterated its long-held position that responsible and sustainable fisheries are ingrained in the ethos and practices of its fishing community. Any comprehensive agreement should consider the interests and welfare of fishing communities.
* **Historical Context**: India has stressed that subsidies to industrial fleets have historically led to overexploitation, while subsidies are vital for developing countries.
* **Principles for Agreement**: India believes any comprehensive agreement should be built on Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) and incorporate Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT).
* **Moratorium on Subsidies**: India urged Members to introduce a moratorium on subsidies by Distant Water Fishing Nations for fishing activities beyond their EEZs for at least 25 years.
* **OCOF Subsidies**: India has not accepted any framework allowing developed countries to continue historic subsidies while restricting developing countries.
* **Government's Commitment**: The Government remains committed to safeguarding small-scale and traditional fishers' interests.
* **Responsibility for Large Subsidies**: Countries with large historic subsidies and industrial fishing fleets should bear greater responsibility.
* **WTO Fish Fund**: The WTO Fish Fund is intended to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to developing and least-developed countries for implementing the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder**: Indian Fishermen (particularly small-scale and traditional)
* **Impact**: Their livelihoods are potentially impacted by the WTO-FSA, specifically regarding fair competition and potential restrictions on subsidies. The WTO Fish Fund is intended to provide support.
* **Action Required**: To benefit from any schemes implemented using the WTO Fish Fund as well as adapt to changing regulations regarding fishing practices and subsidies.
**Stakeholder**: Government of India (Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying)
* **Impact**: Responsible for negotiating the terms of the WTO-FSA and ensuring it aligns with the interests of Indian fishermen and the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.
* **Action Required**: To continue advocating for India's position in WTO negotiations, implement appropriate safeguards, and ensure Indian fishermen benefit from the WTO Fish Fund.
**Stakeholder**: Distant Water Fishing Nations
* **Impact**: Potentially impacted by calls for moratoriums on subsidies for fishing activities beyond their EEZs.
* **Action Required**: To consider the impact of their subsidies on global fishing stocks and the livelihoods of fishermen in developing countries, and to engage in constructive dialogue to reach mutually agreeable solutions.
Key Entities Referenced
World Trade Organisation-Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (WTO-FSA): An agreement under the World Trade Organization concerning subsidies related to fisheries.
Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The Union Minister responsible for the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
WTO Fish Fund: A fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support for the implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
India: The country whose fishing industry and fishermen are the subject of the policy question.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 631
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03RD 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 12th Ministerial Conference
on 17th 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 13th 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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