Description
This CTIF support will assist six Pacific Island Countries WTO members (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu) in assessing the implications of implementing the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement in their respective countries.
Working in coordination with the Permanent Delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to the United Nations, this technical assistance initiative will include the development of an assessment report to determine the possible impact of the various provisions of the WTO FSA on each of the countries and a presentation of the assessment and recommendations at an appropriate regional meeting or forum comprised of participating PIC WTO Member representatives and relevant ministers/officials.
Problem being addressed by CTIF
The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (FSA) is a major step for ocean sustainability by prohibiting harmful fisheries subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks. The new disciplines in the FSA address the sustainability of marine fish stocks and fisheries by curbing subsidies to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and prohibiting subsidies to fishing on overfished stocks and the unregulated high seas. The FSA is now open for ratification and will enter into force after ratification by two-thirds of the WTO Members.
This CTIF initiative is in line with a request at the Forum Special World Trade Ministers Meeting on Post-MC 12 Priorities for the Pacific in November 2022 for the PIF Secretariat to “assist each Forum WTO Member to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the implications of implementing the FSA” to support their respective decisions to ratify the FSA.
Development Dimension
The majority of Pacific Island Countries rely on fish for their daily survival. Supporting policies and initiatives that ensure the sustainability of their fisheries sectors will, therefore, underpin the future livelihood of a majority of the Pacific population, especially women, who are responsible for more than half of the community fishing activities in these countries.