"Activists say fish stocks now have chance to recover. First WTO agreement to come into effect since 2017. Took more than 20 years to finalise, more talks needed."
"GENEVA - A landmark agreement to curb billions of dollars in subsidies contributing to overfishing came into force on Monday, the World Trade Organization said - a move activists hailed as a step towards helping global fish stocks recover.
It was the first agreement to take effect at the WTO since 2017 after years of stalled debates and infighting on top of, more recently, a surge in U.S. tariffs that left some critics asking whether the Geneva-based body had a future.
The formal ratification by Brazil, Kenya, Tonga and Vietnam on Monday meant the deal, first agreed in 2022, now had the required support of two thirds of members, a WTO spokesperson said.
Governments are now prohibited from providing subsidies for overfished stocks and for fishing in international waters beyond their jurisdictions. Poorer states will be able to access a fund to help ease them into the deal."
Emma Farge reports for Reuters September 15, 2025.
SEE ALSO:
"Long-Wrought WTO Global Agreement Aimed At Reducing Overfishing Takes Effect" (AP)
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