"The United States and other TPP countries have proposed TPP disciplines on subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, potentially lighting the way for a WTO multilateral agreement on fisheries subsidies."
"To date, these costs have largely been subsidized by taxpayers, and fishermen will soon have to bear these additional costs themselves, which could push small fishermen out of business completely."
Some of my previous posts on NZ included a one titled "Domcumentary on NZ fishing practices" (15/08/2009).
New Zealand's authorities have taken these allegations very seriously and have launched a "Ministerial Inquiry into Foreign Charter Vessels" on these practices.
Ms Damanaki European Commissioner, in charge of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, lifted a corner of the veil on the Commission's proposal for a future EU's fisheries fund. This happened during a hearing at the UK's Parliament House of Commons Select Committee on Envrionment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Here is the link to the UK's Parliament website with the video of the hearing. The discussion on the new fisheries fund takes place at the end of the hearing (from 12h22 on):
Algeria will be paying subsidies for fishermen who have to stop fishing activities to let fish reproduce. The subsidy cosnsists of a minimum guaranteed monthly salary of 18,000 Algerian Dinar (250 USD).
According to the press a new shrimp processing facility will open in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In some of the articles I found on the Internet it is mentioned that "the state [Louisiana] is providing a $1.09 million loan guaranty to Baton RougeShrimp, and the company is expected to utilize the state’s Enterprise Zone and Industrial Tax Exemption programs." Public authorities in India, (central government and States) have an history of supporting the fisheries sector (see my post tagged “India”). India has also been very adamant at the WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies in defending the possibility by governments to give subsidies to fisheries, especially in developing countries. This is confirmed by the written proposals that India has submitted to the WTO.“lump sum subsidy of Rs. 30,000/- (Rupees Thirty thousand only) per year on a minimum consumption of 2000 litres of Kerosene.”
“The beneficiary will be entitled for financial assistance to the extent of 50% of the cost limited to Rs. 40,000/- (Rupees Forty thousand only) per O.B.M. of 8-10 HP to be shared by the State and the Central Government from the year 2011-12 of which the Central share shall be 50% of the eligible subsidy limited to Rs. 15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen thousand only) and balance of Rs. 25,000/- shall be borne by the State Government. The bank will finance the loan amount to the extent of the cost of the out board motor hypotheticating the canoe of the applicant and considering the cost of the canoe as margin money and also taking into account of Rs. 40,000/- (Rupees Forty thousand only) as a Government subsidy. Motor purchased with self finance are also eligible for subsidy at the above rate.”
"...the industry has been going downhill and that the families of the fishermen are now living in hunger and poverty. The party said that the subsidies given to the fishermen to purchase fuel are given with the aim to lift of these burdens from them and to help them out."
In March 2011 I wrote a post on Malaysia's subsidies to fuel used by fishermen.“The government subsidises 25,000 to 28,000 litres of diesel equivalent to RM31,250 (10,271 USD) and RM35,000 (11,503 USD) for each vessel every month and all Zone C2 vessels could use up to an average of 14 million litres of diesel every month”
"Freeze all harmful fisheries subsidies and offer to reduce them by 10% in the first year provided a critical mass of members do the same;" Richard Baldwin and Simon J. Evenett © voxEU.org
“Today, Mission Blue, Oceana and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) delivered a letter to President Obama calling for renewed U.S. leadership at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to end subsidies that contribute to overfishing.
In the letter, 77 prominent environmental leaders and groups, including conservation organizations Oceana and WWF, marine scientists Dr. Sylvia Earle and Dr. Daniel Pauly, and celebrity activists Leonardo DiCaprio, Chevy Chase and Darryl Hannah wrote, “The United States has played a strong role across successive administrations, to achieve new rules for fisheries subsidies at the WTO. Recent developments at the WTO may threaten to derail years of progress towards a successful result. We urge you at this important juncture to send clear and public signals that a genuine ‘win’ on fisheries subsidies remains a critical priority for the United States at the WTO.”
"...includes subsidizing the artisan fishing sector for purchasing fishing boats, engines, instruments and equipment used in the artisan fishing boats, as well as the artisan fishing accessories, in addition to the subsidy allocated for purchasing the long fishing threads, electric cranes used in the artisan fishing boats and GPS and other equipment."
"also included the coastal fishing subsidy for purchasing and possessing fishing equipment, quality control devices, subsidizing the fishing industries, such as, the fish drying and preparation equipment whether by salting, smoking or storing."Here is the link to this press release:
"The fisheries sector is one of the major contributors to non-oil/gas generated income, but it is seen as having an even much greater potential with Omani fishing waters being regarded as among the richest in the world. The sector and associated industry plays a vital role in the economy, as well as in the livelihoods of tens-of-thousands of fishermen and employees in the fisheries industry. The sector’s huge growth can be directly related to its importance and the confidence placed in it by public and private sector investors. It generated substantial income with figures for 2009, showing that over 158,000 tonnes of fish with a value of RO104 million were landed, a growth of four per cent compared to 2008. In 2010, local authorities have worked hard to ensure that specified rules and regulations are adhered to by fishermen."
"Based on this broad understanding of the situation, a three pronged approach needs to be explored:Ujal Singh Bhatia © voxEU.org
The segregated package has to be internally balanced to allow for incentives and trade offs for all players.
- Seriously contentious issues like the Market Access issues, Agricultural Subsidies, and Rules may be segregated for continuing consultations under agreed terms of reference.
The areas for focus are fairly obvious to those close to the negotiations.1
- Stand alone agreements to be finalised on less contentious issues.
- The third component would be a Ministerial decision to initiate a work programme for institutional reform in the WTO."
"Specifically, Trade Facilitation, all aspects of Export Competition in Agriculture including Export Subsidies, Transparency Mechanism for RTA’s, LDC Waiver in Services, NTB’s package in NAMA, Ministerial decisions on Para 31(i) and 31(ii) of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, Implementation of the Hong Kong decision on Duty Free Quota Free treatment for LDC’s, a Ministerial decision on the Monitoring Mechanism for S&D provisions, as well as a Ministerial Decision on the issues raised by the C-4 on Cotton."
I went through it and to my great surprise I did not find the "s" word, i.e. subsidy, subsidies, (financial) support. So, this piece of policy (not negligible) does not appear in this document. You could read such absence in different ways. One could be: subsidies must go, they should disappear, so do not mentioned them. The other way of reading the document would be: do not touch subsidies, keep them as they are (or at least at the same level). Another way of looking at it would suggest that, as subsidies are such a contentious issue, it is better not to address them. "This reform should seek to maximise the economic benefits for society through the sustainable management of these vital and renewable resources for future food security."This sounds like agriculture. Would this mean that the EU has to ensure that it can be self sufficient in its supply of fish products, for food security purposes?
Here is a catch from the Net! 
In recent weeks I have written a few posts on fuel subsidies.
The Republicans in Main are proposing a series of tax cuts, including taxes on fuel used by fishing vessels. In one press article (see link hereunder) State Senator Trahan is quoted as saying that "The elimination of the sales tax on fuel used in the Gulf of Maine is aimed at encouraging fishermen to bring their fish to Portland, rather than Massachusetts".
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