{"id":1113,"date":"2025-05-17T10:43:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T05:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mpeda.gov.in\/indianseafood\/?p=1113"},"modified":"2025-08-27T10:58:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T05:28:02","slug":"regional-workshop-on-wto-agreement-on-fisheries-subsidies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mpeda.gov.in\/indianseafood\/?p=1113","title":{"rendered":"Regional Workshop on WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

15\u201316 May 2025, Chennai | Organised by BOBP-IGO, IISD & RISE UP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deepening Understanding, Advancing Regional Cooperation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO)<\/strong>, in collaboration with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)<\/strong> and RISE UP<\/strong>, organized a two-day Regional Workshop on the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies<\/strong> at Chennai<\/strong> from 15\u201316 May 2025<\/strong>. The event was supported by India\u2019s Department of Fisheries<\/strong> and leading global agencies such as the FAO<\/strong>, WTO<\/strong>, and ICSF<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Mohamed Koya<\/strong>, Fisheries Development Commissioner<\/strong>, Department of Fisheries, Government of India. Dr. Krishnan<\/strong>, Director, BOBP, welcomed the delegates and delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the need for cooperation and knowledge-sharing to ensure sustainable fisheries management in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broad Representation from the Bay of Bengal Region<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The workshop brought together country delegations from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Malaysia, Sri Lanka<\/strong>, and Thailand<\/strong>, fostering a dynamic platform for dialogue and collaboration. Shri Praveen Kumar<\/strong>, Director, Department of Commerce, Government of India, also participated in the sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)<\/strong> was represented by a delegation led by Shri Anil Kumar P<\/strong>, Secretary (I\/c) & Joint Director (Marketing), along with Dr. Ansar Ali A<\/strong>, Deputy Director (Marketing Services), and Dr. Joice V. Thomas<\/strong>, Chief Executive, MPEDA-NETFISH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Workshop Focus Areas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd39 Promoting Understanding & Implementation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The central objective was to raise awareness of the 2022 WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies<\/strong>, which aims to eliminate harmful subsidies contributing to overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the depletion of global marine resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd39 Facilitating Regional Dialogue<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The event encouraged participating countries to share their national implementation challenges<\/strong>, technical assistance needs, and strategies for aligning domestic policies with WTO mandates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd39 Addressing Small-scale Fishers’ Needs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sessions included discussions on balancing sustainability mandates<\/strong> with the livelihood concerns<\/strong> of small-scale fishers. Issues around food security and coastal community welfare were also highlighted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technical Sessions & Country Presentations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The workshop featured a comprehensive review of the WTO Agreement\u2019s provisions, especially:<\/p>\n\n\n\n