India seeks strong WTO subsidy rules for high seas fishing

India advocates for stricter regulations on high seas fishing subsidies at the WTO, highlighting stark disparities in support levels.

India has pitched at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for stricter regulations on subsidies granted by countries that are engaged in high seas fishing activities, an official said.

Highlighting the stark disparity, an Indian document submitted at the WTO has noted that it provides a modest $35 per fisher annually, compared to subsidies as high as $76,000 per fisher per year in some European nations.

India also suggested that historical subsidisers should seek permission of the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies for grant of subsidies in future.

The country has made these remarks in the meetings of the Negotiating Group on Rules (Fisheries subsidies), which are going on in Geneva.

"India has pitched for strong disciplines for historical fisheries subsidisers which are engaged in distant water fishing [200 nautical miles from seashore] and has asked for a moratorium on subsidies at the present level for 25 years," the official said.

On these demands, India was supported by countries like Indonesia and other developing countries, the official added.

"Blaming India for stalling the decision at the GC [General Council] is merely an excuse and a tactic to push for weak disciplines, allowing business as usual to continue," the official said, adding WTO members engaged in distant water fishing should stop providing any kind of subsidies for 25 years as they provide significantly higher support measures and are indiscriminately exploiting the fisheries resources.