THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, JULY 20, 2026
In a significant move
that strengthens its commitment to sustainable trade and marine resource
conservation, India on Monday became a Party to the World Trade Organization
(WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) after depositing its Instrument of
Acceptance. The Instrument of Acceptance was formally handed over by Commerce
Secretary Rajesh Agrawal to the Director-General of the WTO, making India the
123rd WTO Member to ratify the landmark agreement.
India's acceptance of
the Agreement underscores its commitment to sustainable fisheries management
while protecting marine resources that support food security, livelihoods and
employment for millions of coastal communities. The Agreement, adopted by consensus
at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva in June 2022, is the first
multilateral WTO agreement with an environmental sustainability objective. It
entered into force on September 15, 2025, after securing acceptance from
two-thirds of WTO Members.
The Agreement
prohibits government subsidies that encourage illegal, unreported and
unregulated (IUU) fishing as well as fishing of overfished stocks, helping curb
practices that threaten marine biodiversity and the long-term sustainability of
global fish stocks. It specifically applies to marine wild capture fishing and
fishing-related activities at sea, while aquaculture and inland fisheries
remain outside its scope.
For India, where
fisheries are predominantly small-scale and traditional in nature, the
Agreement is expected to create a more level global playing field by
disciplining harmful subsidies extended to large industrial fishing fleets
operated by distant water fishing nations. This is expected to safeguard the
long-term interests of India's traditional and small-scale fishers while
promoting responsible and sustainable fishing practices.
The development is
also expected to strengthen India's standing as a responsible seafood exporter
by enhancing its credibility in premium global markets that increasingly
prioritise sustainability and traceability. At the same time, the country's
seafood export competitiveness remains well protected, as aquaculture-based
shrimp—India's leading seafood export product — is outside the ambit of the
Agreement.
India's preparedness
to implement the Agreement is backed by a comprehensive domestic fisheries
management framework, including the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules, 2025, and the Guidelines for Sustainable
Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas by Indian-Flagged Fishing Vessels,
2025. These regulatory measures are complemented by capacity-building
initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and other
fisheries management, monitoring and conservation programmes, creating a strong
institutional foundation for effective implementation while preserving policy
space for traditional and small-scale fishers.
The WTO Agreement on
Fisheries Subsidies aims to promote the conservation and sustainable use of
marine fisheries resources while providing appropriate flexibilities for
developing and least-developed country Members. India's domestic fisheries
governance framework is already aligned with the objectives of the Agreement,
enabling the country to contribute meaningfully to global marine conservation
efforts without compromising the interests of its fishing communities.
With its formal
acceptance of the Agreement, India has reinforced its commitment to sustainable
fisheries management, responsible marine resource governance and a rules-based
global trading system with the WTO at its core, further strengthening its
position as a responsible stakeholder in international trade and environmental
sustainability.
