Key Details
India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 20 July 2026, becoming the 123rd WTO member to join the Agreement.
Key Area | Main Update |
|---|---|
Agreement objective | Prohibits subsidies linked to illegal fishing, overfished marine stocks and unsustainable fishing practices. |
India's acceptance | India became the 123rd WTO member to deposit its Instrument of Acceptance on 20 July 2026. |
Coverage | Applies to marine wild-capture fisheries and fishing-related activities at sea. |
Exclusions | Aquaculture and inland fisheries remain outside the Agreement's scope. |
Domestic implementation | India will implement the Agreement through its 2025 EEZ Rules, High Seas Guidelines and fisheries management programmes under PMMSY. |
India Joins the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement
India has formally accepted the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies by depositing its Instrument of Acceptance on 20 July 2026. Adopted at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference in 2022 and in force since September 2025, it is the WTO's first multilateral agreement centred on environmental sustainability.
The Agreement seeks to align international trade rules with marine conservation by restricting subsidies that contribute to illegal fishing and the depletion of marine fish stocks.
Agreement Targets Harmful Marine Fishing Subsidies
The Agreement disciplines government subsidies associated with:
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Fishing of overfished marine stocks.
Marine fishing activities that undermine the sustainable use of ocean resources.
Its provisions apply only to marine wild-capture fisheries and related activities conducted at sea.
India Retains Flexibility to Support Aquaculture
The Agreement does not cover aquaculture or inland fisheries. This allows India to continue supporting fish farming, inland fisheries and livelihood programmes without those measures falling under the WTO's subsidy disciplines.
The exclusion is particularly significant because India's seafood exports rely heavily on aquaculture, especially shrimp production, while domestic support for inland fisheries and small-scale fishing communities remains unaffected.
Existing Fisheries Rules Provide the Implementation Framework
India already has a regulatory framework for implementing the Agreement through:
Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025
Guidelines for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas by Indian-Flagged Fishing Vessels, 2025
Monitoring, conservation and capacity-building initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
Together, these measures support sustainable marine fishing while strengthening monitoring and compliance.
What Is an Instrument of Acceptance?
An Instrument of Acceptance is the formal legal document through which a country agrees to be bound by an international agreement. By depositing this instrument with the WTO, India formally became a party to the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.
Policy Relevance
Marine Resource Sustainability: By disciplining subsidies linked to illegal fishing and overexploited marine stocks, the Agreement supports the long-term sustainability of ocean fisheries.
Policy Space for Development: The exclusion of aquaculture and inland fisheries allows India to continue supporting fish farming, inland fisheries and livelihood programmes without constraining domestic development priorities.
Trade and Export Credibility: Alignment with WTO fisheries disciplines reinforces India's commitment to sustainable fishing practices and can strengthen confidence in its marine seafood exports in sustainability-conscious markets.
Regulatory Implementation: Effective compliance will require robust vessel monitoring, fisheries data systems, subsidy reporting and enforcement against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Domestic Policy Alignment: India's existing fisheries governance framework - including the 2025 EEZ Rules, High Seas Guidelines and PMMSY - provides the institutional foundation for implementing the Agreement.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India strengthen sustainable marine fisheries governance while preserving policy support for aquaculture and the livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities?
Follow the Full Update Here: India Joins WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement to Curb Harmful Marine Fishing Support