|
Whereas most experts agree that subsidies paid
for the construction and operation of fishing
vessels increase capacity and therefore put
additional stress on the resources, the effects on
trade are less clear. It can be assumed that
subsidies have an effect on trade whenever they
have an impact on the volume of fisheries products
moving across international frontiers or on the
product prices. But very little research has in
fact been carried out on possible trade distortions
caused by subsidies, and few attempts to quantify
them have been undertaken.
The only cases so far in international trade
related to subsidies and fish exports stem from
aquaculture, in which domestic producers have
convinced their own governments to take action
against purportedly subsidised products imported
from abroad. With rising aquaculture production and
trade we will surely see more of these cases in the
future.
The question of subsidies in fisheries has
recently been put firmly on the international
agenda. Studies by the WTO, APEC, OECD as
well as FAO are focusing on the use of subsidies in
fisheries and the possible negative consequences on
sustainability and trade.
|