WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies Latest News
Recently, India has deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) and became a Party to the Agreement.
About WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
- It was adopted by consensus at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva in June 2022.
- It is the first multilateral WTO agreement with an environmental sustainability objective.
- It prohibits government support to illegal fishing activities and overexploitation of stocks, contributing to the protection of marine life.
- The Agreement entered into force on 15 September 2025 after acceptance by two-thirds of WTO Members.
- India is the 123rd Member of the WTO to deposit its Instrument of Acceptance.
Key Features of WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
- The Agreement focuses on subsidies related to marine wild capture fishing and fishing-related activities at sea.
- Aquaculture and inland fisheries remain outside the scope of this Agreement.
- It protects the livelihoods of traditional and small-scale fishers by promoting sustainable fisheries.
- It prohibits subsidies linked to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and fishing of overfished stocks,
- It also creates a more equitable global fisheries regime by disciplining harmful subsidies that support large, heavily subsidised industrial fishing fleets operated by distant water fishing nations.
Source: PIB
Last updated on August, 2026
→ UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th August 2026.
→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus 2026 here.
→ UPSC Mains Admit Card 2026 is expected to be released in early August at upsc.gov.in or upsconline.nic.in
→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2027 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.
→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mentorship Program 2027 for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.
→ Go through the UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.
→ Download UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2025, UPSC Mains GS Paper-I 2025, UPSC Mains GS Paper-II 2025, UPSC Mains GS Paper-III 2025, UPSC Mains GS Paper-IV 2025, UPSC Mains English (Compulsory) Paper 2025, UPSC Mains Hindi (Qualifying) Paper 2025 here.
→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.
→ UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.
→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India
WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies FAQs
Q1. WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted at which Ministerial Conference?+
Q2. What is the main objective of WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement?+
Tags: prelims pointers upsc current affairs upsc prelims current affairs wto agreement on fisheries subsidies
