• The WTO's fisheries subsidies agreement went into effect on September 15, 2025.
• This is the first multilateral trade deal focused on environmental sustainability.
• The agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
• Governments must reduce harmful subsidies totaling approximately $35 billion annually.
• A fund to support developing countries in implementing the agreement has received over $18 million in pledges.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) announced the entry into force of its historic Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on September 15, 2025. This landmark treaty is significant as it represents the first international trade pact centered on environmental sustainability. The agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as for overfished stocks and high seas fishing that lacks regulation, aimed at curbing billions of dollars in harmful subsidies that contribute to the depletion of marine resources, according to Reuters and AA.

The agreement received ratification from Brazil, Kenya, Tonga, and Vietnam, surpassing the required two-thirds majority of WTO members needed for its implementation. "This Agreement demonstrates how you can put trade in the service of both people and planet," said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, highlighting the agreement's role in restoring fish stocks and protecting livelihoods that depend on healthy marine ecosystems, as reported by Africanews.

Under the pact, approximately $35 billion in government subsidies will be scrutinized, of which around $22 billion are deemed harmful, leading to significant overfishing challenges globally. The new regulations aim to protect around 35.5% of fish stocks currently overfished, compared to only 10% in 1974. To assist poorer nations, a WTO Fish Fund has been established, which has already attracted commitments exceeding $18 million to facilitate the transition into compliance with the new standards, according to Reuters and AA.

With the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies coming into force, the WTO has officially set the framework for enhancing transparency in subsidization practices through the establishment of a Committee on Fisheries Subsidies. This committee will ensure ongoing dialogue regarding implementation and adherence to the agreement, fostering a cooperative environment among member nations as they work towards sustainable fishing practices, as highlighted by Africanews.