FISHERIES SUBSIDIES

WORKING DOCUMENTS ON PROHIBITED SUBSIDIES RELATING
TO IUU FISHING AND OVERFISHED STOCKS

Communication FROM THE CHAIR

The attached working documents have emerged from the intensive work in the Negotiating Group on Rules at its cluster in the week of 13 – 17 November.  These two working documents relate to two of the proposed prohibitions on fisheries subsidies being considered in the Group, relating to overfished stocks and to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

These working documents are the result of a collective effort by delegations, and represent an effort to develop working texts that could present with some degree of clarity the numerous issues, approaches, and views before the Group in these areas. Their purpose is to facilitate further work of the Group, and they can be expected to continue to evolve. They are of course entirely without prejudice to the position of any delegation.

These documents cover only two of the many issues before the Group. The Group will need to continue its efforts in all remaining areas, with a view to developing similar working texts and otherwise advancing its work on additional prohibitions such as overcapacity and capacity-enhancing subsidies; special and differential treatment; transparency and notifications; standstill; preamble; scope; transitional provisions; and institutional arrangements.