What is the issue?
- WTO is considering proposals on prohibiting certain fisheries subsidies in its upcoming Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- However India and many developing countries are certainly concerned with this.
What is the concern?
- The issue gathered pace when an informal grouping of members called “Friends of Fish” demanded for curbing fisheries subsidies.
- The group included Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, Pakistan, Peru and the US.
- They highlighted that subsidies to the fisheries sector have led to over-capacity and overfishing.
- Countries including Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei have expressed uncertainty over the link between subsidies and over-fishing.
- On the other hand, many developing countries such as India and Philippines seek flexibility in granting subsidies.
- India provides subsidies in the form of support for motorisation of fishing boats, fuel rebates and infrastructure support.
- Notably all of this fall under the targeted subsidies list at the WTO.
What is India's proposal?
- Subsidies - India has proposed the members to agree to apply prohibitions only outside territorial waters.
- This would leave the management of territorial waters to their respective national authorities.
- This provision is exceptional of the prohibition in cases of IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing).
- Such an arrangement would not disturb the benefit of subsidies offered to small scale fishers, and continue to protect subsistence and artisanal fishing.
- The proposal has generated a lot of interest from members including the ones pushing seriously for a prohibiting pact.
- Over-fishing - India has suggested a flexibility clause for the concern on over-fishing.
- Accordingly, when a fish stock is found to be over-fished, developing countries must be given some flexibility in terms of time period.
- Within a specified number of years, the country should withdraw the related subsidies.
- And this rule should only cover areas beyond the territorial waters.
Source: The Hindu, BusinessLine
