By Kemo Cham
Sierra Leone has become the latest country to formally accepts the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which seeks to prevent exploitation of the world’s fish stocks.
WTO member countries adopted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies at the 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Among others, the Agreement sets new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks. It also recognizes the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries and establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations.
The Agreement notably prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.
The member countries, at the Ministerial Meeting, also agreed to continue negotiations on outstanding issues, with a view to adopting additional provisions that would further enhance the disciplines of the document.
For the Agreement to come into force, it needs two-thirds of WTO members’ formal acceptance through deposition of an “instrument of acceptance”.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Lansana Gberie, presented the country’s acceptance to WTO’s Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Geneva on Friday, July 19, 2023.
According to a press statement from the UN body, the Republic of Benin also presented its acceptance the same day. It brought to the 80 the number countries that have accepted the agreement.
And according to WTO, it remains 30 more member countries’ acceptance for the agreement to come into force.
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala was quoted expressing delight at the move by Sierra Leone and Benin.
“Their support underlines the importance that they, as least-developed members, place on this Agreement and on global cooperation for upholding ocean sustainability and combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, to support livelihoods and food security in West Africa and around the world,” she said.
She added that she looked forward to the remaining 30 countries to “quickly follow the leadership” of Benin and Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Gberie was quoted in the same statement saying that Sierra Leone’s ratification of the agreement was a testament to the administration of President Bio’s commitment to multilateralism, to the principles of sustainability and conservation, and to the fair and responsible exploitation of Sierra Leone’s natural resources.
“This ratification is firmly in keeping with our national policies, both economic and social, with a focus on preserving marine biodiversity, promoting sustainable fishing practices, and supporting the livelihoods of our fishing communities, some of which are under existential threats from foreign poachers and the adverse effects of climate change,” he said.
“With this instrument, we also commit to forging ahead with the second wave of negotiations, striving to achieve a meaningful agreement sooner rather than later,” Gberie added, calling on other countries, particularly African and small coastal states, to ratify the agreement.
“This is a crucial step in our pursuit for balanced and environmentally respectful development,” said Benin’s Ambassador, Corinne Brunet, who also urged other WTO members to accelerate their national ratification processes.
Sierra Leone and Benin also brought to 15 the number of African countries to have formally accepted the Agreement, nine of which are least-developed countries. Eight of them are in West Africa.
Sierra Leone is the second Mano River Union member country on the list, after Cote d’Ivoire which presented its acceptance on 23rd October, 2023.
