2025 News items – Zambia formally accepts WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies – World Trade Organization

Report on the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Advancing Global Sustainability through Trade Policy

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted by consensus at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022, establishes new, binding multilateral rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. This agreement represents a significant step towards achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to environmental protection, economic stability, and global cooperation.

Zambia’s Ratification: A Commitment to SDG 14 from a Landlocked Nation

Zambia has formally deposited its instrument of acceptance for the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, becoming the 105th WTO member to do so. This action is particularly noteworthy as Zambia is a landlocked country, demonstrating a global commitment to ocean health that transcends geography. Director-General Okonjo-Iweala noted that this ratification brings the agreement closer to entry into force, which is critical for protecting livelihoods, ensuring food security, and restoring marine fish stocks.

Ambassador Luambia of Zambia articulated the nation’s perspective, emphasizing the agreement’s role in achieving several SDGs:

• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The agreement is crucial for sustaining marine fish stocks.
• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): It promotes fair trade to support livelihoods and food security, especially for small-scale fishing communities.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The entry into force of the agreement reinforces the rules-based multilateral trading system.

Core Provisions and Direct Alignment with SDG 14.6

The agreement’s primary objective is to fulfill the mandate of SDG Target 14.6, which calls on nations to prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, and to eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The agreement’s core disciplines directly address this goal by prohibiting subsidies for the following activities:

1. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
2. Fishing of overfished stocks.
3. Fishing on the unregulated high seas.

Implementation Support and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

Recognizing the diverse capacities of its members, the WTO established a dedicated fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building. This initiative is a clear example of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in action, ensuring that developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) receive the support needed to implement the agreement’s obligations effectively. The Fish Fund has launched a Call for Proposals, inviting ratified members to request project grants to aid in implementation.

Status of Ratification and Future Outlook

For the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to enter into force, it requires formal acceptance from two-thirds of WTO members, which equates to 111 ratifications. With Zambia’s submission, the process is now only six ratifications away from this critical threshold. WTO members have also committed to continuing negotiations on outstanding issues to further strengthen the disciplines on fisheries subsidies, signaling an ongoing dedication to achieving the conservation and sustainability objectives outlined in the SDGs.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.6: Prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, and eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The entire article is about the WTO’s “Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies,” which directly aims to “curb harmful fisheries subsidies” and “prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.”
   • Target 14.4: Effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The agreement’s goal is to achieve “restoring marine fish stocks” by prohibiting subsidies for “fishing overfished stocks” and for “illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.”
   • Target 14.b: Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets. The article highlights that the agreement aims to promote “fair trade to support livelihoods, particularly for those in small scale fishing.”

2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article explicitly states that a key benefit of the agreement is to protect “food security” by sustaining and restoring marine fish stocks, which are a vital food source for many.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.10: Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization. The article emphasizes that the agreement will “further strengthen the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at the centre.”
   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development. The article describes a global partnership in action, with 111 ratifications needed from WTO members to bring the agreement into force. It also mentions the establishment of a “fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building” for developing and least-developed countries, which is a core component of this partnership.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 14.6

   • Indicator: Number of WTO members that have deposited their instruments of acceptance for the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. The article provides a direct measure of progress, stating, “we are now closer than ever… and only six ratifications away from breaking new ground.” It quantifies this by noting that 111 ratifications are needed and provides a link to the list of the 105 members who have already done so.

2. For Target 14.4

   • Indicator (Implied): Status of marine fish stocks. While no specific data is given, the article’s stated purpose is “restoring marine fish stocks” and prohibiting subsidies for “fishing overfished stocks.” The ultimate measure of the agreement’s success, and thus an implied indicator, would be the improvement in the biological sustainability of these stocks.

3. For Target 17.16

   • Indicator: Establishment and operationalization of the WTO Fish Fund. The article explicitly mentions the creation of “a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building.” It further indicates its operational status by stating, “The Fish Fund launched a Call for Proposals on 6 June,” which is a concrete, measurable action.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wto.org