WTO Fish Fund Opens Second Call to Support Fisheries Subsidy Reforms

The WTO Fish Fund has opened its second Call for Proposals, inviting developing and least-developed country (LDC) members that have ratified the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to apply for grants to support implementation of the landmark accord.

The call opened on 2 February, with eligible WTO members able to submit project proposals by 24 April through the Fish Fund application portal. The funding aims to help countries meet their commitments under the Agreement, which targets harmful fisheries subsidies that contribute to overfishing and overcapacity.

Two Grant Streams Available for Eligible Members

Under the second call, the Fish Fund is offering two types of grants tailored to different stages of implementation:

• Project preparation grants of up to USD 50,000 to support needs assessments and preparatory work required to implement the Agreement.

• Project grants of up to USD 300,000 to finance concrete projects addressing specific provisions of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

These grants are designed to ensure that developing economies and LDCs have the technical and institutional capacity needed to comply with the Agreement's disciplines.

Strong Uptake in First Funding Round

Demand for support under the Fish Fund has already been significant. Following the first Call for Proposals, the Fish Fund Steering Committee approved 26 project grant requests at its November 2025 meeting, allocating a total of USD 2.9 million.

The second call builds on this momentum as more WTO members move from ratification to practical implementation.

Agreement Now in Force, Backed by Broad Membership Support

The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in 2022 and entered into force on 15 September 2025. Its entry into force activated the Fish Fund's full grant-making and disbursement mandate.

To date, 116 WTO members have formally accepted the Agreement, reflecting broad international support for stronger rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies and promote sustainable fishing practices.

Global Partnership to Support Sustainable Fisheries

The Fish Fund was established under Article 7 of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and is housed at the WTO. It operates in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Bank.

Together, these institutions provide technical expertise and implementation support to complement the Fund's financial assistance.

Over USD 18 Million Mobilised to Date

As of now, the Fish Fund has received deposits, commitments, and pledges totalling more than USD 18 million. Contributing members include Australia, Canada, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

The second Call for Proposals marks another step in translating the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies into tangible action on the ground, particularly for countries most in need of implementation support.