Lamy urges Doha deal for sustainable fishing

WTO director-general Pascal Lamy, in a statement on the occasion of World Oceans Day this week said “today, we run the risk that over-fishing will so deplete fish stocks in our oceans that many species will disappear forever.”

“This is not only bad news for the oceans, it is bad news for the world’s 43.5 million full time fishers.”

“Governments have contributed to this problem by providing nearly $16 billion annually in subsidies to the fisheries sector. This support keeps more boats on the water and fewer fish in the sea.”

“But WTO members are now negotiating to reform these subsidies programmes so that fishing becomes a sustainable industry and so that we can fully appreciate our oceans' bounty for generations to come. A deal in the WTO now would mean richer oceans for future generations.”