Fishing Subsidies: Victories

WTO Director-General Lamy on World Oceans Day

June, 2009

WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, in a statement on the occasion of World Oceans Day (8 June 2009), urged the WTO to take action to reduce fishing subsidies in light of overfishing concerns.


United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk on World Oceans Day

June, 2009

U.S. Ambassador Ron Kirk issued a statement on World Oceans Day urging the WTO to address overfishing by reducing harmful fishing subsidies.


Obama Puts Fisheries Subsidies on Agenda

February, 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama recognized the need to make trade part of the solution for addressing international environmental challenges, specifically mentioning fisheries depletion, in his 2009 Trade Policy Agenda.

 


House Ways & Means Committee Letter

July, 2008

A bipartisan group of 12 congressional trade leaders from the powerful House Ways & Means Committee called on the United States to make the successful outcome of the fisheries subsidies negotiations a trade priority.


WTO Drafts Agreement on Subsidies

November, 2007

The World Trade Organization took a tremendous step forward in the negotiations when it produced the first draft agreement on fisheries subsidies which surpassed, in some cases, all of Oceana’s conservation recommendations. The WTO negotiations were expected to be completed by the end of 2008, but are still ongoing because of reasons not related to fisheries subsidies. Oceana continues to “protect” the draft agreement, which is still intact and remains the basis for the negotiations.


U.S. House Passes Resolution on Fishing Subsidies

June, 2007

The United States House of Representatives passed a resolution stating that eliminating harmful fisheries subsidies represents a U.S. priority. That resolution, H.Con.Res.94, was sponsored by Rep. Bordallo.


U.S. Senate Passes Resolution on Fishing Subsidies

May, 2007

In May 2007, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution making it clear the elimination of harmful fisheries subsidies is a U.S. priority. The resolution, S.Res.208, was sponsored by Senator Ted Stevens.