Launch – As the worldwide dialogue continues on the elimination of dangerous subsidies to the fisheries sector, following the adoption of the World Commerce Group (WTO) Settlement on Fisheries Subsidies on the 12th WTO Ministerial Convention on 17 June 2022, Caribbean international locations have been engaged on its far-reaching implications. The WTO Settlement units new, binding, multilateral guidelines to curb dangerous subsidies, a important issue within the widespread overfishing of the world’s fish shares. Particularly, the Settlement prohibits subsidies for unlawful, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, for using overfished shares, and for fishing on the unregulated excessive seas. Implementation of this Settlement will contribute to the fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Improvement Aim goal 14.6.
The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), the CARICOM Secretariat, the Caribbean Improvement Financial institution (CDB), and WTO are co-hosting the twond Regional Technical Workshop on the Ratification and Implementation of the Fisheries Subsidies Settlement in CARICOM Member States. The aim of the occasion—which is bringing collectively Caribbean senior Commerce and Fisheries officers and representatives from companion organizations in Bridgetown, Barbados, from 25-26 March 2024—is to supply sources and instruments to information ratification and implementation of the WTO Settlement on Fisheries Subsidies.
The Technical Workshop may even assist to chart a manner ahead for the implementation of the Settlement and strengthen the capability of nationwide Fisheries and Commerce Officers to implement the Settlement. It would additionally construct upon the outcomes of the primary technical workshop on Fisheries Subsidies for the Caribbean area held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 17-19 January 2023. The continued second wave of fisheries subsidies negotiations, which search to develop extra provisions on subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, may even be mentioned in regards to the not too long ago held 13th WTO Ministerial Convention in Abu Dhabi.
The Keynote Speaker for the Opening Ceremony would be the Hon. Kerrie Symmonds, M.P., Minister of Overseas Affairs and Overseas Commerce and Senior Minister coordinating the Productive Sector of Barbados. Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-Normal of the CARICOM Single Market and Commerce, and Therese Turner-Jones, Vice-President (Operations)(Ag.) on the Caribbean Improvement Financial institution, may even ship remarks in the course of the Opening Ceremony.
Milton Haughton, Government Director, CRFM Secretariat, may even current remarks in the course of the Opening Ceremony and later lead off the technical engagement with a presentation on Sustainable Fisheries Administration and Improvement within the Caribbean within the context of fisheries subsidies. Clarisse Morgan, Director – Guidelines Division on the WTO Secretariat, will ship remarks in addition to an Overview of the WTO Settlement on Fisheries Subsidies, and Chantal Ononaiwu, Director of Exterior Commerce on the CARICOM Secretariat, will current on the second wave of negotiations on Fisheries Subsidies.
As of 12 March 2024, 71 international locations had ratified the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Settlement, together with 5 (5) CRFM Member States: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Haiti, and Saint Lucia. Based on the World Commerce Group, for the Settlement to enter into power, two-thirds of WTO members (or 109 international locations) should formally settle for the Settlement on Fisheries Subsidies by depositing an “instrument of acceptance” with the WTO. As soon as the Settlement enters into power, it’ll stay open for acceptance by every other WTO member and can take impact for that new signatory as quickly as its instrument of acceptance is deposited with the WTO.
Member States will converse on their inside processes and approaches to ratifying and implementing the WTO Settlement, together with any challenges skilled. Worldwide and regional organizations offering technical help and capacity-building help will present particulars on alternatives accessible to help international locations with implementing the settlement as soon as it has come into power.
This week’s technical workshop additionally gives a discussion board for different regional and worldwide organizations, fisherfolk, donors, non-CARICOM international locations, and personal sector representatives who can be immediately or not directly impacted by the Subsidies Settlement to be engaged on this important matter.
It’s anticipated that after the twond Regional Technical Workshop on the Ratification and Implementation of the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Settlement, Caribbean international locations will probably be higher geared up to chart the way in which ahead for the ratification and implementation of the Settlement.
