WTO Fish Fund Approves $2.2 Million in Grants for 17 Countries to Implement Fisheries Subsidies Agreement

The World Trade Organization's Fish Fund Steering Committee has allocated nearly $2.2 million in grants to 17 developing and least-developed WTO members. This funding aims to assist these nations in implementing the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

The approved grants, part of the fund's second Call for Proposals, will facilitate crucial activities such as conducting needs assessments, enhancing data collection, and strengthening regulatory frameworks. This initiative is designed to help beneficiary members effectively put the agreement into practice.

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In under ten months, the Fund’s grants are now delivering results across the world – the Caribbean, South and Central America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific. I find that quite an achievement.

With this latest round of approvals, the Fish Fund has now extended its support to over 40 WTO members. The Steering Committee also reviewed progress from the first Call for Proposals, where 26 grants totaling nearly $2.9 million were approved, with most projects already underway. The fund has now committed over $5 million across 43 grants since its inception.

Deputy Director-General of the WTO, Jennifer Nordquist, highlighted the fund's rapid impact, noting that grants are already delivering results across various regions. The committee also endorsed recommendations for implementing the agreement, focusing on needs assessments and ensuring assistance aligns with the fund's mandate and the agreement's disciplines. Core partners like the FAO, IFAD, and the World Bank Group were recognized for their contributions to the technical assessment of project proposals.

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The positive collaboration of the Committee and its shared commitment to building a Fund that is effective, transparent, responsive and capable of delivering meaningful and lasting results for developing and least-developed members. These efforts are making a vital contribution to supporting implementation of the Agreement and preserving the sustainability of global marine fisheries.