India joins WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, becomes 123rd member
New Delhi, July 20
India has become the 123rd member of the World Trade Organization to join the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies after depositing its Instrument of Acceptance, a move the government said will strengthen the country's position as a responsible seafood exporter while protecting the interests of traditional and small-scale fishers.
According to a Ministry of Commerce and Industry press release, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal formally handed over India's Instrument of Acceptance to the WTO Director-General on July 20.
The ministry said India's decision "reaffirms the country's commitment to sustainable fisheries management while preserving marine resources as a source of food security, livelihoods and employment for coastal communities."
The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva in 2022, is the first multilateral WTO agreement focused on environmental sustainability. It prohibits subsidies linked to illegal fishing activities and overfishing of depleted fish stocks.
The government said the agreement "protects the livelihoods of traditional and small-scale fishers by promoting sustainable fisheries" while creating "a more equitable global fisheries regime by disciplining harmful subsidies that support large, heavily subsidised industrial fishing fleets."
"The Agreement further enhances India's credibility as a responsible seafood exporter, thereby supporting improved access to premium markets that increasingly value sustainability and traceability," ministry added.
At the same time, the government noted that India's aquaculture-based shrimp exports will remain unaffected because "aquaculture and inland fisheries remain outside the scope of this Agreement," ensuring the continued competitiveness of the country's seafood export sector.
The ministry said India's existing fisheries management framework, including the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules, 2025, and capacity-building initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), provides a strong foundation for implementing the agreement.
It added that by joining the agreement, India "reinforces its unwavering commitment to the rules-based trading system with the WTO at its core."
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is excellent news for our shrimp farmers in Andhra and Tamil Nadu! The fact that aquaculture and inland fisheries are outside the scope means our export competitiveness remains intact. But I hope the government actually monitors the implementation. Too many agreements look good on paper but fail in practice. We need real enforcement to protect our small-scale fishers.
Interesting development. As someone who follows trade policy, I think India joining this agreement makes strategic sense. It shows commitment to multilateral rules while actually protecting domestic interests through smart exemptions. The aquaculture exclusion is a masterstroke - it keeps our ₹50,000 crore shrimp export industry competitive while taking a moral high ground. Win-win! 🎯
One concern though - will this hurt our traditional fishermen in Kerala and Goa? They've been protesting against trawlers for decades. While the agreement bans subsidies for overfishing, implementation at the state level is weak. The PMMSY scheme has good intentions but the ground reality is messy. I hope this isn't just another paper agreement that looks good at WTO but doesn't change anything for our coastal communities.
As someone from a fishing family in Mumbai - this is complicated. On one hand, we need to stop the big trawlers that use illegal nets. But our traditional fishers also need subsidies for fuel, boats and ice plants. The agreement bans subsidies for illegal fishing and overfished stocks, which is good. But will the government now cut support for our small boats? Need clarity on the fine print. 🧐
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