India to push for 'carve-out for poor fishermen' at WTO

 In the 13th ministerial conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) scheduled next month, India will bargain for a 'complete carve-out for poor fishermen' in the developing countries, so that subsidies are not put to an end.

- SHREYA NANDI

In the 13th ministerial conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) scheduled next month, India will bargain for a 'complete carve-out for poor fishermen' in the developing countries, so that subsidies are not put to an end.

With about 9 million people dependent on the sector in India, the government's top priority at the WTO's ministerial meeting will be to protect the interest of the poor and fishermen, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

India constitutes 25 per cent of the world's fishermen.

The discussion comes against the backdrop of the global trade body trying to build a consensus on an agreement that aims to curb subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing.

Towards this, India has proposed that developing countries should be allowed to give subsidies to their poor fishermen to catch fish till exclusive economic zones (EEZs) or up to 200 nautical miles from the shore.