Renowned Hollywood figures and environmental advocates, Ted Danson and Billy Joel, have thrown their support behind a critical World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on fishing subsidies. Their advocacy efforts are prominently featured in the groundbreaking documentary film, ‘Change Makers: The Global Race to Save our Seas’, produced by Jayde Lovell, CEO of ReAgency Lab. The documentary sheds light on the global issue of fishing subsidies and their detrimental impact on oceans and communities.
The film also showcases the endorsement of marine biologist and marine economist Daniel Pauly and Rashid Sumaila, recipients of this year’s prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. These influential voices unite to bolster the push for the WTO agreement.
The overarching issue revolves around global government subsidies to the fishing sector, exceeding a staggering US$35 billion. These subsidies incentivize industrial fishing, even when it is financially unsustainable, leading to a severe depletion of global fish stocks. Despite two decades of activism and negotiations, achieving an international agreement to address this problem appeared elusive.
However, on June 17, 2022, the WTO achieved an unexpected global consensus to prohibit some of the most harmful fishing subsidies. This groundbreaking and legally enforceable agreement holds the potential to facilitate the recovery of fish stocks, safeguard food security, and protect the livelihoods of millions of people.
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is a historic milestone as it is the first WTO agreement explicitly focusing on environmental concerns. It also represents the first fully met Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target (Target 14.6) and only the second agreement reached at the WTO since its inception.
Commenting on the potential impact of the agreement, Ted Danson emphasized, “If you manage the world’s fisheries correctly, you could provide a billion fish meals a day forever, and that’s at a time when food security is a huge, huge issue.” The involvement of high-profile advocates like Danson and Joel brings attention to the urgency of addressing fishing subsidies and the critical role of the WTO agreement in securing a sustainable future for marine ecosystems and communities.
