Description
While
the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations have picked up some momentum
in the past few months, a clear articulation of how to effectively integrate
sustainable development considerations into the disciplines remains
largely lacking. The need to address this gap is becoming increasingly
urgent as pressure to advance on elaborating disciplines is mounting
in the lead-up to the Hong Kong Ministerial meeting in December. As
part of this effort, the workshop aims to provide a forum for open and
constructive debate on how to integrate the sustainability dimension
into the fisheries subsidies disciplines so as to ensure that the outcomes
respond to legitimate environmental, social and economic considerations.
At
the same time, disciplining fisheries subsidies will not be sufficient
to ensure that fisheries trade will contribute to meeting sustainability
objectives. Thus, there is a need to broaden the debate towards a more
holistic approach to the fisheries-trade interface. Developing countries
in particular continue to face significant challenges to effectively
participate in the global market, including supply-side constraints
and the ability to meet market requirements. While aquaculture could
be an avenue for mitigating some of the pressures on the fisheries resources
and provide opportunities for expanding the domestic industry, associated
environmental impacts and livelihoods considerations will need to be
addressed. Moreover, bilateral fisheries agreements could help build
capacities in developing countries, but can also lead to overexploitation
of fisheries resources through distant water fleets as well as impacts
on the competitiveness of the local industry.
The
first part of the meeting provided an opportunity for brainstorming
among leading thinkers to identify knowledge gaps, innovative solutions
and priority areas for action related to fisheries, trade and sustainability.
The second part of the meeting allowed for discussion of these issues
with Geneva-based policy-makers in the context of the WTO negotiations.
