The fishing sector remains unsettled as it navigates lingering fallout from Covid-19, ongoing geopolitical frictions, and renewed challenges in fuel supply. Mariners and fleets that depend on steady access to fuel have felt the pressure acutely. Before the pandemic touched Spanish shores, marine diesel at the Vigo port traded at 0.418 euros per litre in February 2020. The latest data show that price climbing to 0.652 euros per litre, marking a rise of more than fifty percent from the prior average. Shipowners have watched these changes with concern, noting limited support to cope with higher costs compared with competitors elsewhere in the world. Negotiations at the World Trade Organization have long aimed to curb fishing subsidies. The historic agreement reached in mid-2022 protected some exemptions for fishing diesel from being classified as illegal aid. That carveout is set to endure unless tangible changes occur before the next round of talks, anticipated to intensify in February as discussions progress. [Citation: WTO 2022]
The WTO and its members are preparing a fresh draft for discussion at the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference MC13, scheduled for late February in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In the weeks leading to Christmas, negotiators focused on a new draft that seeks to reduce subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing. The document reflects input from members and ongoing dialogue and is designed to push negotiations forward again in January. [Citation: WTO 2022]
A representative overview shows broad criticism of indirect fuel subsidies that support fishing fleets. Recent analysis emphasizes greater transparency and accountability around these supports. The overarching aim is to align fiscal measures with sustainable management, a topic that has drawn persistent pressure from member countries and environmental groups alike. [Citation: WTO 2022]
The draft’s central innovations seek to increase scrutiny on countries that provide the most aid to their fleets, with a three-group framework based on subsidy intensity and global fishing impact. The strictest group would cover the twenty largest subsidy providers, as identified by member declarations, and would require them to demonstrate that subsidies do not undermine resource sustainability. A second group would include least developed and developing countries whose combined share of global marine catch is small, potentially excluding them from the basic subsidy ban for a defined period. A third group would cover remaining countries, with ongoing reporting obligations about the supports offered to their fleets. [Citation: WTO 2022]
The aim is clear: reduce subsidies that drive overcapacity and overfishing. This remains the core message highlighted by the negotiator in charge, who hopes the new draft can bridge remaining gaps as MC13 approaches. The debate centers on balancing the need to support legitimate domestic fleets with the duty to preserve ocean resources for the long term. [Citation: WTO 2022]
With the negotiations moving toward a critical moment, officials hope the latest draft will help close the remaining divides. The Icelandic ambassador overseeing the talks indicated that the proposal is meant to facilitate more intensive discussions in January and to advance the second phase of negotiations as MC13 draws near. The goal is to reach a robust, lasting agreement that can withstand evolving market and environmental pressures while ensuring greater transparency and accountability in subsidy practices across the maritime sector. [Citation: WTO 2022]
The broader context remains one of caution and pragmatism. Governments and observers alike recognize the delicate balance between supporting fisheries livelihoods and maintaining healthy, sustainable marine ecosystems. As discussions continue, stakeholders will be watching closely to see which measures are adopted, how effectively they are implemented, and what this means for fleets, fuel costs, and the global fishery economy in the months ahead. [Citation: WTO 2022]
The debate continues to unfold with a focus on governance, transparency, and accountability—hallmarks of a framework designed to curb unsustainable practices while protecting legitimate fishing activities and the communities that depend on them. In this ongoing effort, the next rounds of dialogue are widely anticipated to shape the trajectory of subsidies, overcapacity controls, and the overall sustainability of the world’s oceans. [Citation: WTO 2022]