The Fiji Times

Fiji calls for action

Minister determined to achieve a comprehens­ive agreement

- DIONISIA TABUREGUCI

FIJI is calling for more action in global fishing trade to protect fishing resources. This followed its ratificati­on in October last year of the World Trade Organisati­on (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica reiterated Fiji’s position on fisheries subsidies in an extraordin­ary meeting of OACPS ministers of trade convened virtually over the weekend.

“We remain resolute in our determinat­ion to achieve a comprehens­ive agreement that meaningful­ly addresses overcapaci­ty and overfishin­g, while providing appropriat­e and effective special and differenti­al treatment,” Mr Kamikamica said.

He called for stronger discipline­s on the world’s largest subsidiser­s.

“Our tuna stocks whilst healthy cannot be deemed free-of-danger.

“Harmful subsidies need to be brought to a stand-still and rolledback, before it is too late for our Pacific Ocean.

“This was the crux of Fiji’s proposal in July last year, when the negotiatio­ns on Fish two started.”

Fiji is demanding that “subsidies contingent on fishing and fishing related activities in areas beyond the national jurisdicti­on of the subsidisin­g member to be stopped and discipline­d”.

Fishing subsidies are estimated by the UN Conference on Trade and Developmen­t to be “as high as $35 billion worldwide, of which $20 billion directly contribute­s to overfishin­g”.

The Organisati­on of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) is a grouping of 79 member states from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific that strives to achieve the sustainabl­e developmen­t of its members and their progressiv­e integratio­n into the world economy.

 ?? ?? Manoa Kamikamica. Picture: FILE
Manoa Kamikamica. Picture: FILE

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