Among the agreements adopted in Geneva last week was a Ministerial Declaration on the emergency response to food insecurity. A text adopted at a time when the war in Ukraine is depriving part of the planet of cereals and fertilizers. A situation that is driving up prices and threatening millions of people around the world with hunger.
Fishing was one of the other key topics on the ministerial agenda. Negotiations on the subject were launched over 20 years ago, and are part of the UN’s sustainable development objectives. In particular, this means prohibiting certain forms of subsidy that may encourage illegal harvesting. To help developing countries, the WTO wants to set up a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building so that these countries can implement the agreement and help their fishermen move towards more sustainable fishing.
