- Why in news
- On 8 October 2026 a PIB article by two fisheries experts discussed India's ratification of Phase 1 of the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance on 20 July 2026.
- What it is
- The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is a multilateral trade agreement that bans harmful subsidies to fishing. It was adopted at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva in June 2022. It is the first WTO agreement with environmental sustainability at its core.
- India's Phase 2 demands
- India wants a 25-year transition period for developing countries within their EEZs, and a per-fisher benchmark for subsidy disciplines.
- Subsidy per fisher
- The article says Indian small-scale fishers get about US$15 support per fisher a year, against US$1000 or more in EU, US and China fleets.
- Origin of the agreement
- The agreement was adopted at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva in June 2022.
Don’t confuse with Phase 1 vs Phase 2: Phase 1 bans subsidies for IUU fishing, overfished stocks and unregulated high-seas fishing. Phase 2 deals with overcapacity and overfishing subsidies and is still under negotiation.
Don’t confuse with IUU fishing: IUU means illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. It is a different thing from legal fishing aided by subsidies.
International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.
Why it matters
- Shows India backing global marine conservation and curbs on IUU fishing.
- Keeps India's policy space for small-scale and artisanal fishers.
Problems
- Livelihood and food security of millions of small fishers could be hit by rigid subsidy rules.
- Developed fleets have far higher per-fisher subsidies, so equal rules look unfair to developing countries.
Way forward
- Secure differentiated treatment and a long transition period for developing countries in Phase 2.
- Use per-fisher benchmarks and coordinate with Bay of Bengal countries, including through BOBP-IGO.
Put in your answer
Per-fisher subsidy gap: Support per Indian small-scale fisher is about US$15, against US$1000 or more in EU, US and China fleets.
Sustainability with equity: Sustainability and livelihood security should be treated as complementary goals.
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UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Pairs
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
With reference to the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, consider the following pairs:
- 1.Phase 1 of the Agreement — Covers illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, overfished stocks and unregulated high-seas fishing
- 2.Subsidies for fuel, gear and vessel construction — Disciplined under Phase 1
- 3.Adoption of the Agreement — 12th WTO Ministerial Conference, Geneva, June 2022
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
True or false?
1 of 4
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.India's ratification of Phase 1 requires it to give up its demand for flexible treatment in Phase 2.
False. India says ratification does not weaken its demand for a longer transition and flexible treatment in Phase 2.
2.India argues that subsidy disciplines should be assessed on a per-fisher benchmark.
True. India insists on a per-fisher benchmark rather than comparisons ignoring scale and capacity.
3.The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference of the WTO.
True. It was adopted in Geneva in June 2022 at MC12.
4.The Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) is headquartered in Geneva.
False. BOBP-IGO is based in Chennai, India.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Mains practice
15 marks · 250 words
India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance for Phase 1 of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in July 2026, while pressing for a 25-year transition period and a per-fisher benchmark in Phase 2. Examine the provisions of the Agreement and discuss its impact on India, especially on small-scale and artisanal fishers.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.