India Becomes a Party to the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

India has deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) on 20 July 2026, officially becoming a Party to the Agreement.

India’s decision reaffirms its commitment to sustainable fisheries management, while ensuring that marine resources continue to support food security, livelihoods and employment, particularly for coastal communities.

About WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted by consensus at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva in June 2022. It is the first multilateral WTO agreement with an environmental sustainability objective.

The Agreement entered into force on 15 September 2025, after being accepted by two-thirds of WTO Members. India has become the 123rd WTO Member to deposit its Instrument of Acceptance.

Key Provisions

The Agreement focuses on subsidies related to marine wild capture fishing and fishing-related activities at sea.

It prohibits government subsidies that support:

• Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• Fishing of overfished stocks.
• Activities contributing to the overexploitation of marine resources.

However, aquaculture and inland fisheries are outside the scope of the Agreement.

Significance for India

The Agreement is particularly significant for India because its fisheries sector is largely dominated by traditional and small-scale fishers rather than large industrial fishing fleets.

By disciplining harmful subsidies provided to large, heavily subsidised industrial fishing fleets, particularly those operated by distant-water fishing nations, the Agreement seeks to create a more equitable global fisheries regime.

For India, the Agreement can help protect the interests of small-scale and traditional fishing communities, promote sustainable use of marine resources, and address fishing practices that threaten the long-term health of ocean ecosystems.

Source: PIB

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