The Gambia and the United Kingdom have officially accepted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, reaching a significant milestone in the path towards its entry into force. Seyaka Sonko, Minister of Interior of The Gambia, and Andrew Mitchell, Minister of State (Development and Africa) of the UK, presented their instruments of acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The UK also announced a pledge of up to GBP 1 million to the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism.
This move marks the halfway point in terms of formal acceptances required for the Agreement to come into effect, with a total of 55 WTO members having accepted it. Director-General Okonjo-Iweala expressed her delight at The Gambia becoming the first least-developed country to accept the Agreement and commended the UK for its formal acceptance and commitment to the Fisheries Funding Mechanism.
Minister Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof of The Gambia emphasized the country’s commitment to sustainable marine practices and the protection of oceanic ecosystems. Minister Mitchell of the UK highlighted the significance of the fisheries agreement for global sustainability, the well-being of fishing communities, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the WTO in June 2022, aims to establish binding multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, particularly those contributing to the depletion of global fish stocks. The agreement prohibits support for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, bans support for fishing overfished stocks, and ends subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas.
The Gambia’s participation in the agreement reflects its commitment to sustainable trade practices and environmental stewardship, aligning with the country’s dedication to the SDGs. The UK’s pledge to the Fisheries Funding Mechanism further supports the effective implementation of the agreement by developing nations, reinforcing the importance of multilateral efforts to address global challenges in the fisheries sector.
