Sustainability Criteria for Fisheries Subsidies: Options for the WTO and Beyond

This report analyses conditions under which fisheries subsidies may be used without contributing to overcapacity and overfishing, focusing on biological, industrial and regulatory factors that shape sustainability in marine fisheries. It examines global concerns about depleted fish stocks and the role of subsidies in expanding fleet capacity and fishing effort, while recognising ongoing international negotiations on subsidy regulation and national reform efforts. The document develops a framework of sustainability criteria relating to stock status, fishing capacity and fisheries management systems. It discusses assessment methods, precautionary benchmarks such as maximum sustainable yield, and monitoring, control and surveillance mechanisms needed to manage fisheries effectively. The report also considers special circumstances of artisanal fisheries and outlines possible criteria applicable to international trade rules and domestic policy frameworks.