Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics Economics and Trade Branch Environmental Aspects of Fisheries Subsidies WTO Symposium on Trade and Sustainable Development October 2005 A brief overview of UNEP’s work and findings

Overview of the Fisheries Sector Critical to national economies Key source of employment Essential for food security Developing countries = US$18 billion (net fish export) 38 million worldwide 1 billion depend on fish as primary source of animal protein

Trends in the Fisheries Sector Source: FAO, Review of the state of world marine fishery resources (2005)

Trends in the Fisheries Sector Source: FAO, Review of the state of world marine fishery resources (2005)

Trends in the Fisheries Sector Source: FAO, Review of the state of world marine fishery resources (2005)

Factors Leading to Overfishing  Overcapacity  Inadequate fisheries management  Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing  Subsidies

Promote sustainable fisheries management and practices, especially in developing countries UNEP’s Mission Provide a forum to discuss innovative approaches to fishery policy reform Further understanding and awareness of the impacts of fisheries subsidies

Main Activities Country Projects Stakeholder Consultations Analytical Publications

Country Projects Argentina (2002) Senegal (2002; 2004) Mauritania (forthcoming) Bangladesh (1999; 2004) Uganda (1999)

Country Study: Bangladesh Economic potential of marine fisheries significant Subsidies to the industry negligible More scope for sustainable exploitation of marine fisheries and economic development of the sector Need for financial and structural assistance

Country Study: Mauritania Fisheries sector key source of income Numerous access agreements signed Effects: -decrease in fish stock (e.g. octopus) -shift in catches to export species -loss of jobs -negative social and environmental consequences Need for better resource management for sustainable fisheries sector

International Stakeholder Consultations UNEP Fisheries Subsidies Workshop (2001) Workshop on the Impacts of Trade-Related Policies on Fisheries and Measures Required for their Sustainable Management (2002) UNEP Workshop on Fisheries Subsidies and Sustainable Fisheries Management (2004) Promoting Development and Sustainability in Fisheries Subsidies Disciplines: An Informal Dialogue on Select Technical Issues (2005)

Analytical Publications Analyzing the Resource Impact of Fisheries Subsidies: A Matrix Approach (2004) Incorporating Resource Impact into Fisheries Subsidies Disciplines: Issues and Options (2004) Artisanal Fishing: promoting poverty reduction and community development through new WTO rules on fisheries subsidies (forthcoming in 2005) Reflecting sustainable development and S&D treatment in the context of new WTO fisheries subsidies rules (forthcoming in 2005)

SubsidyManagementExploitation

Matrix of Impact of 8 Categories of Subsidies NH = Not Harmful PH = Possibly Harmful H = Harmful / = Not Applicable

Future Initiatives Two newly-commissioned papers on: -considering a role for subsidies in re-orienting developing country fisheries policies towards sustainability; and -access agreements

United Nations Environment Programme Division of Technology, Industry and Economics Economics and Trade Branch The International Environment House 11-13, chemin des Anémones Ch 1219 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: Thank You