Scientists call for subsidies to stop other fisheries
GENFdpa-AFX) – In view of the overfishing of the world’s oceans, 289 scientists from 46 countries have required a stop to subsidies for other fisheries. Such a ban is currently being discussed in the World Trade Organization. An agreement should possibly be adopted at the ministerial conference in Geneva on November 30th. The positions are far apart.
“In order to curb overfishing, the destruction and loss of biodiversity as well as CO2 emissions and to secure the food and livelihood of many people, and the WTO members prohibit fishing subsidies that cause damage,” the scientists wrote in an open letter in the “Science” magazine.
It is about subsidies for fuel or shipbuilding or those that keep market prices for fish artificially high. Above all, fishing fleets dying far from their home coasts should no longer be supported. Above all, this threatens poorer countries that are dying to rely on fishing there.
One of the main authors of the letter is the German scientist Anna Schuhbauer from the University of British Columbia in Canada.
According to the World Food Organization, a good third of the world’s fish stocks are overfished. According to a calculation by the environmental organization Pew Charitable Trusts, the total amount of fish would increase by 12.5 percent or 35 tons by 2050 if all millions of other subsidies were abolished. According to a Canadian study, fisheries subsidies worldwide amounted to around 35.4 billion dollars (almost 30 billion euros) in 2018. According to the study, 63 percent of this flow into substantial subsidies. The largest grantors of subsidies are China, with supplies from Japan and the EU. China is also particularly active in waters far away from the domestic coasts.
The environmental foundation WWF urges the EU to negotiate constructively. “It is extremely worrying that the EU is advocating derogations rather than effective and fair problem-solving,” said fisheries expert Anna Holl. “Failure to negotiate would have catastrophic consequences for the world’s oceans and millions of people.” / Oe / DP / jha