The formal acceptance marks an important step toward entry into force of the Agreement, with about one-third of the acceptances needed now in hand.
Nigeria is the fifth-largest African fishing nation and is estimated to lose about $70 million each year to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The sector accounts for as much as five per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and supports the livelihood of about 24 million people.
Nigeria’s ambassador to the WTO, Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid, presented Nigeria’s instrument of acceptance to WTO’s Director General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday afternoon.
Acceptances from two-thirds of WTO members are needed for the Agreement to come into effect.
Reacting to this, Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am profoundly grateful to Nigeria for formally accepting the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. I am proud to see the country’s continued commitment to sustainable development and its vote of confidence in the work of the WTO. Nigeria’s acceptance adds to our growing tally of members that have accepted the Agreement.
“We have received about one-third of the total that we need for the Agreement to enter into force. I hope that Nigeria’s action serves as an inspiration to other governments in Africa and the rest of the world, to move swiftly to implement the Agreement and foster global cooperation for the benefit of our shared future.”
Abdulhamid, on his part, said the Agreement presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to promote sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and the improvement of livelihoods, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem. He added that the Agreement would put a stop to all harmful fisheries subsidies, such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities by all WTO members.
“By this instrument of acceptance, Nigeria reassures its commitment to a rule-based multilateral trading system by guaranteeing its compliance with the Agreement as well as refraining from introducing any new subsidies that harm the marine environment, while recognising the need for appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries, which can be achieved through adequate policy space to develop its fisheries sector and technical assistance and capacity building, in order to implement the discipline.”
He called on other members, yet to ratify the agreement, to do so as soon as possible, to contribute to preservation of global fish stocks.
Adopted by consensus at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held in Geneva, in June, last year, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks.
In addition, the Agreement recognises the needs of developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) and establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations.
The Agreement prohibits support for IUU fishing, bans support for fishing overfished stocks, and ends subsidies for fishing on unregulated high seas.
Members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiations on outstanding issues, with a view to making recommendations by MC13, to be held in February 2024, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for additional provisions that would further enhance disciplines of the Agreement.
