WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement: India Accepts as 123rd Member
Why in the news
On 20 July 2026 India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance for the WTO fisheries subsidies pact, becoming the 123rd member to accept it. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal handed it to WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; the step balances sustainability and small fishers’ protection.
About the agreement
- Adopted by consensus at MC12 (Geneva, June 2022) within the “Geneva Package”.
- First WTO multilateral deal with an environmental sustainability goal; second new multilateral agreement since 1995, after the Trade Facilitation Agreement.
- Became operational on 15 September 2025, once 111 members (two-thirds) had ratified.
- Linked to SDG Target 14.6, which targets subsidies that feed overfishing and IUU fishing.
Coverage
| Aspect | Position |
|---|---|
| Banned subsidies | IUU fishing; overfished stocks; unregulated high seas |
| In scope | Marine wild capture fishing and related activity at sea |
| Out of scope | Aquaculture and inland fisheries, a big part of India’s small-scale sector |
Key concepts
- WTO: Geneva-based; formed 1995, replacing GATT.
- Ministerial Conference: apex body; MC12 was held in 2022 and MC13 in Abu Dhabi.
- Blue Economy: growth from ocean resources while keeping oceans healthy; PMMSY is India’s 2020 fisheries scheme.
Exam angle
- India: 123rd acceptance; 111 members needed for entry into force.
- Excluded from scope: aquaculture and inland fisheries.