30/03/2026
Our delegates had a great time at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, while following key discussions on fisheries subsidies.
WTO MC14 offered only limited time to discuss one of the most pressing issues for coastal communities: harmful fisheries subsidies. While the existing Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies entered into force on 15 September 2025, the negotiations on stronger disciplines to curb overcapacity and overfishing remain far from complete. For the millions of small-scale and artisanal fishers, the outcomes – or lack thereof – carry direct consequences for livelihoods, food security, and the health of marine ecosystems.
What Happened at MC14 on Fisheries Subsidies?
Discussions on fisheries subsidies at MC14 were brief. Ministers appear set to adopt a “Ministerial Decision” that:
– Reiterates support for implementing the existing Agreement, with emphasis on notifications and capacity building for developing countries.
– Calls for continued negotiations with the aim of concluding additional disciplines at MC15.
Some contention surrounded the text, though details on specific objections remain unclear. The limited time allocated and the absence of ambitious new commitments signal that real progress on curbing overcapacity subsidies has been deferred once again.
The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: Progress so far with Major Gaps
The Agreement, prohibits subsidies to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and to fishing on overfished stocks (with limited exceptions if rebuilding measures are in place).
While this marks the first WTO agreement with environmental sustainability at its core, it falls short of fully addressing the root causes of overfishing. The bulk of harmful subsidies – those that build and maintain excessive fishing capacity – are left for the ongoing negotiations. Pressure is mounting on countries to ratify and implement the current agreement, yet the real political appetite for confronting the big subsidising nations remains uncertain.
