Livestock

Country’s fishing community united to oppose WTO’s decision to end subsidies

Country's fishing community united to oppose WTO's decision to end subsidies

The country’s fishing community united to oppose WTO’s decision to end subsidies.

The country’s fishing community, both traditional and mechanized, has united in its opposition to the WTO’s decision to end subsidies in the small-scale fisheries sector.

They stated in a memorandum to visiting Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal that the highly complicated rules on fisheries subsidies are being negotiated at the WTO meeting scheduled for June 12-15 in Geneva.

Also Read | ICAR-CIFT & ICICI Foundation team up for rural fishery, and livelihood security.

The fishing communities are concerned that these rules will jeopardize their livelihoods and drive them into poverty and deprivation. The WTO negotiations appear to be geared toward protecting the interests of countries with commercial fishing while ignoring the interests of subsistence fishermen, according to Peter Mathias, president of the All Kerala Fishing Board Operators Association.

The current state of negotiations on fisheries subsidies must not be allowed to continue, and the government should take immediate steps to block any WTO move to end subsidies in the fisheries sector.

‘Withdrawing subsidies will have a severe impact on our livelihoods, which are already stressed due to the scarcity of fish due to climate change, marine pollution, and other factors,’ he said.

The associations also asked the Commerce Minister to intervene to prevent the WTO from withdrawing fisheries subsidies.

Also Read | Rising fuel price made difficult Kerala’s traditional, mechanized fisheries industries.

Trawlnet Boat Operators Association, Kollam District Fishing Boat Operators Association, Karnataka Purse-seine Meenugarara Sangha, Malpe Fishermen’s Association, and Cochin Fisheries Harbour Vyavasaya Samrakshana Samithy were among the associations that met with the Minister in Kochi.

About the author

AgriNews

Agri News India’s ultimate agricultural news portal is dedicated to providing the farming fraternity with the latest Agri and related sector news. We believe that the power of information can transform the farming sector.

Add Comment

Click here to post a comment

Knowledge Share

Agri Academy

Agri Mock test, MCQ Agri-Economics, for UPSC/UGC NET/ASRB NET/NABARD/SRF/JRF/KSET/SO/ Competitive Exams