L'Organisation mondiale du commerce et les subventions à la pêche : quel est le chemin parcouru ?

This research paper by Tristan Irschlinger provides an update as of March 2025 on the World Trade Organization's (WTO) efforts to regulate fishing subsidies. It details the existing 2022 Agreement (Phase 1) and the ongoing negotiations for additional, broader rules (Phase 2) aimed at addressing overcapacity and overfishing to promote marine sustainability.

• The 2022 WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies prohibits subsidies in three specific scenarios: when fishing activities are illegal, when fish stocks are overexploited without recovery measures, and when fishing occurs on the high seas without collective management agreements.
• The 2022 Agreement requires ratification by at least 111 WTO members to enter into force; as of the report, 94 members have ratified it, leaving 17 more needed.
• Negotiations for 'Phase 2' seek to establish broader rules to prevent subsidies from contributing to overcapacity and overfishing, addressing the root causes of the problem rather than just the most acute manifestations of overexploitation.
• Despite significant convergence and a revised text presented by Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson, a total consensus on Phase 2 rules was not reached during the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi (February-March 2024) or subsequent meetings in July and December 2024.
• The current proposed 'hybrid' approach for Phase 2 includes a general ban on subsidies contributing to overfishing and overcapacity, with exemptions for members who can prove healthy fish stock management. Requirements for proof are stricter for developed members, distant-water fishing nations, and major subsidizers.
• The proposed Phase 2 rules include special and differential treatment for developing countries, including temporary and permanent exemptions, specifically expanding flexibility for subsidies granted to artisanal fishers.
• The document notes that 38% of fish stocks are estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to be exploited beyond sustainable levels.

APA

Irschlinger, T. (2025). L'Organisation mondiale du commerce et les subventions à la pêche : quel est le chemin parcouru ? International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/wto-fisheries-subsidies

Chicago

Irschlinger, Tristan. L'Organisation mondiale du commerce et les subventions à la pêche : quel est le chemin parcouru ? International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/wto-fisheries-subsidies.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Irschlinger |first1=Tristan |title=L'Organisation mondiale du commerce et les subventions à la pêche : quel est le chemin parcouru ? |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=March 2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/wto-fisheries-subsidies |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{irschlinger2025lorganisation, author = {Irschlinger, Tristan}, title = {{L'Organisation mondiale du commerce et les subventions à la pêche : quel est le chemin parcouru ?}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/wto-fisheries-subsidies}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }