The Philippines is poised to strengthen its fisheries management, enhance support for small-scale fishers and bolster long-term food security with the entry into force of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, a government official said.
The agreement, which came into force on Sept. 15, 2025, is a major step towards promoting ocean sustainability, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said.
The pact, adopted at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022, is the first global trade agreement centered on environmental sustainability.
It bans subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as those that support fishing on overfished stocks and in unregulated high seas.
According to WTO estimates, governments spend about $22 billion annually on harmful subsidies that fuel overcapacity and threaten marine resources.
The agreement provides a framework for the Philippines to ensure sustainable use of marine resources while promoting fair competition for small-scale and artisanal fishers. Fisheries and aquaculture are vital to livelihood and food security in the Southeast Asian country.
The Philippines formally ratified the deal on Feb. 27, 2024, becoming the 70th WTO member to do so.
A key benefit for the Philippines is access to the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism, or Fish Fund, which has already received more than $18 million in pledges.
The fund will provide technical and financial support to strengthen monitoring and enforcement against IUU fishing, improve data collection and stock assessments and adopt modern technologies for fisheries management. It will also allow the country to provide targeted assistance to small-scale fishers during disasters and emergencies.
The Philippines has also secured a seat on the Fish Fund steering committee, represented by Agriculture attaché Marlito Cabuños in Geneva.
