Members review 34 notifications, share experiences at Fisheries Subsidies Committee

The Committee chair, Ms Ana Lizano (Costa Rica), welcomed the submission of 78 notifications by 28 members since the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies entered into force on 15 September 2025. She encouraged members that have not yet submitted their notifications to do so as soon as possible.

During the meeting, the Committee reviewed 34 notifications submitted by 20 members under various provisions of the Agreement. These included notifications from Albania, Costa Rica and Switzerland covering their fisheries regimes as well as measures in existence or taken by them to implement and administer the Agreement.

Members also reviewed annual notifications of lists of vessels and operators affirmatively determined to have engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These were submitted by Albania; Canada; Chile; China; Costa Rica; Hong Kong, China; Macao, China; New Zealand; Switzerland; Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

On notifications concerning Regional Fisheries Management Organizations/Arrangements to which members are parties, the Committee examined submissions from Australia; Canada; Chile; China; Costa Rica; the European Union; Hong Kong, China; Israel; Japan; Korea, the Republic of; New Zealand; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; Tonga; Türkiye; Ukraine and the United States.

Members also shared national experiences in implementing the Agreement, including in preparing and submitting notifications, and encouraged the Committee to continue exchanging experiences at future meetings. This agenda item was requested by the United Kingdom. 

The Committee received an update on the work of the Fisheries Funding Mechanism known as the "Fish Fund", which has approved 43 grants since the Agreement's entry into force, totalling approximately USD 5.1 million. The total of developing and least-developed country members benefitting from this support to implement the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies now amounts to 41. The next call for proposals is expected in 2027.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported to the Committee for the first time on work it has undertaken that is relevant to the Agreement. In accordance with Article 9.5 of the Agreement, the Committee maintains close contact with the FAO and other relevant international organizations on work related to fisheries management. 

The Committee also considered draft notification templates and procedures to review notifications as well as requests for observer status by international intergovernmental organizations.

The Committee also adopted its first annual report summarizing its activities for circulation to the WTO Council for Trade in Goods.

The next regular meetings of the Committee will be held in the weeks of 26 April and 25 October 2027.