The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (also known as ‘Fish 1’) marks a significant, yet incomplete, multilateral effort to curb harmful government support for the fishing industry. Adopted in June 2022 and officially entering into force on September 15, 2025, this initial pact legally binds ratifying members to prohibit subsidies that fund illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, fishing of overfished stocks, and unregulated high seas fishing.

However, the ‘Fish 1’ agreement is merely a partial solution. It carries a crucial sunset clause: the entire pact will automatically terminate if a more comprehensive agreement — known as ‘Fish 2’ — is not adopted within four years of its entry into force. This impending deadline creates a high-stakes scenario for the WTO and marine su

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