India rejects text on fisheries subsidy talks at WTO meeting

The current text, Goyal said, has not provided a level-playing field to developing nations to address aspirations of their traditional fishers

GENEVA: Rejecting the current text on fisheries subsidy negotiations, India on Tuesday said WTO members engaged in distant water fishing should stop providing any kind of subsides for 25 years as they provide significantly higher support measures and are indiscriminately exploiting the fisheries resources.

For every fisher family, India gives barely $15 subsidy in a year. On the other hand, there are countries which give as high as $42,000, $65,000 and $75,000 to one fisherman's family. "That is the extent of disparity that is sought to be institutionalised, through the current fisheries text, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said.

Subsidies like income and livelihood support during the seasonal no-fishing for regeneration of fish stock, and provision of social security nets to the socially disadvantaged fishing communities cannot contribute to overfishing.