Differential Treatment

Context: India has rightly conveyed to the WTO that its move to seek amendments to the draft of the proposed agreement on fisheries subsidies should not be viewed as a tactic to delay or block this crucial pact.

Global Pact on Fisheries Subsidies

• Objectives: To discipline or eliminate subsidies that encouraged illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
• The provision of special but differential treatment for developing countries was slated to be ingrained in it.
• Need of binding accord on fisheries subsidies: To save the marine sector from over-exploitation.
  • As per FAO report, 34% of the world’s marine resources are already over-exploited.
  • It would deplete the fish stocks, threatening the livelihood of traditional fisherpersons.

India’s stance in providing subsidies to fisheries

• Text that safeguards commercial interests of developed countries is unacceptable to India because it fails to uphold the much-needed sustainability of fisheries.
• India has proposed that rich countries shall stop subsidising fishing in distant waters beyond their exclusive economic zones (EEZ) for 25 years to give time to other countries to build their own sustainable fisheries capabilities.
• Subsidy in fisheries in India is quite meagre: It meets only a part of cost of diesel and essential fishing gear.
• Economic perspective: Favourable outcome of global deal on fisheries subsidies is imperative for the growth of Indian marine fisheries as most of Indian fisherpersons are unable to operate beyond the coastal waters though the catches in this belt are now dwindling because of over-tapping.