In News:

India has deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS), becoming the 123rd WTO member to join the agreement.

What is the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS)?

• The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) is the first multilateral WTO agreement focused on environmental sustainability.
• It was adopted by consensus at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in Geneva in June 2022 and entered into force on 15 September 2025 after receiving acceptance from two-thirds of WTO members.
• The agreement applies only to marine wild capture fisheries and fishing-related activities at sea. It does not cover aquaculture or inland fisheries, thereby excluding these sectors from its obligations.

Key Features

The agreement seeks to curb harmful fisheries subsidies that contribute to the depletion of marine resources. It prohibits subsidies provided for:

• Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing
• Fishing of overfished stocks

According to the WTO, 37.7% of global marine fish stocks are currently overfished, compared to 10% in 1974. The problem is aggravated by nearly USD 35 billion in annual global fisheries subsidies, much of which supports large industrial fishing fleets.

Domestic Preparedness

India has already introduced several measures that complement the objectives of the agreement, including:

• Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules, 2025
• Guidelines for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas by Indian-Flagged Fishing Vessels, 2025
• Capacity building and welfare initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

These initiatives strengthen sustainable fishing practices while supporting the livelihoods of fishing communities.