DILI, 10 july 2024 (TATOLI) – The National Parliament, in an extraordinary plenary session on monday, discussed and approved the Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization on Fisheries Subsidies Agreement (FSA). The protocol was approved with 57 votes in favor, 0 against, and no abstentions.
The FSA prohibits subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, subsidies concerning overfished stocks, and subsidies for fishing in the unregulated high seas.
When presenting the resolution at the National Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister, Francisco Kalbuady Lay, said that the resolution aimed to combat the negative impact of overfishing, illegal fishing, and undeclared and irregular fishing.
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) on 17 June 2022, marks a major step forward for ocean sustainability by prohibiting harmful fisheries subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks.
This agreement was a World Trade Organisation (WTO) treaty dedicated to the environment and which establishes clear rules for the elimination of subsidies that contribute to overfishing and the degradation of global fish stocks.
Timor-Leste needs to ratify this agreement, as it is an opportunity to improve the legal framework to be in line with international sustainability practices to strengthen the management of marine resources and ensure the protection of the sea and future generations.
This plenary session was presided over by House Speaker, Maria Fernanda Lay, and was attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Francisco Kalbuady Lay, and the Minister of Justice, Sérgio Hornai.
The Fisheries Subsidies Agreement includes substantial limitations on subsidizing unsustainable fishing, notably: Prohibition of subsidies to illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing; Prohibition of subsidies for fishing outside of the jurisdiction of a coastal State and outside the competence of a relevant regional fisheries management organization (RFMO/A) to protect the most vulnerable areas lacking established and coordinated fisheries management regime; Prohibition of subsidies to fishing regarding overfished stocks conditional on sustainability standards to rebuild such stocks to healthy level; Disciplines regarding subsidies benefitting vessels not flying the flag of the subsidizing Member and extensive transparency and notification provisions to monitor the implementation of the Agreement.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
