1. Fisheries Subsidies and development
Knowledge sharing on Trade and Investment Good Practices
Brussels, 20th February 2018

2. Presentation Outline An overview of the OECS
Coordinating fisheries subsidies negotiations in the OECS
Lessons learnt
Next steps

3. An Overview of the OECS Est. by treaty in 1981 10 members 7 full
3 associate
Economic Union being developed
Population: 900,000
Avg. GDP growth rate:3%
Small, open, vulnerable trade dependent economies
Economic base: tourism, agriculture, light manufacturing, fin.services
Headquarters: Saint Lucia

4. Overview of fisheries sector
Fish and fish products, which are largely artisanal activities, contribute to domestic food security, socio-economic development and have linkages to important sectors.

5. Fisheries Indicators
Average fish capture production, =12.9 MT;
Average aquaculture production, = 12 MT
Average value, = US12.4M
Number of persons directly employed, = 36,699 (13.75% of the labour force);
The OECS fisheries sector contributes an average of 0.9% to GDP. (Estimate low due to poor data capture.)
Average fish consumption (kg/person) in 2013 = 26 (compared to 2012 global average estimate of 12 kg.)
Source: Peter Murray 2015

6. Overview of the fisheries sector
OECS has to strengthen implementation of technical measures.
Small-scale artisanal fishers (SSAFs) represent 90 per cent of persons engaged in wild fish captures, but only one third of global output.
WTO should take into account Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) for SIDS

7. Issues for the OECS
Artisanal fishing that requires subsidies to transform & modernise
special and differential treatment necessary
Need to meet SDG 14.6 requirements
Want harmful subsidies to be eliminated

8. Tradecom II Assistance
Technical and financial support
To provide guidance to Member States & Commission
To formulate OECS position on fisheries subsidies disciplines for WTO & other negotiating fora

9. Preparing the OECS position
Agreements
Textual proposals
Analysis
Fisheries experts
Trade officials
Consultations
Workshop convened
Position paper prepared
Position developed
In preparation for the OECS, November 2017 Fisheries Subsidies Workshop, preliminary consultations with the concerned six OECS ACP WTO Member States (i.e., Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) was carried out.
This preliminary consultation with the Member States was supported by the outcomes documents on the phases of pre-negotiations of the WTO fisheries subsidies from July – November 2017 stated in the above section with guiding documents on the definitions of fisheries subsides.
This consultation aimed to prepare the OECS Member States readiness on the national priorities, environmental and economic impacts of the elimination of harmful fisheries subsidies. It also provided an overview of the progress made on the text and assisted countries to prepare their concerns on the joint positions on fisheries subsidies vertical text and text proposed by ACP countries. The preliminary consultations were supported by comprehensive reviews of regional and national policies and follow up outcomes of the April 2017 CARICOM regional consultation on fisheries subsidies negotiations.
Fisheries Policy Analysis Report
Provide fisheries and trade-related technical information to advance the consultative process on the WTO fisheries subsidies reforms.
Develop a common understanding on the member’s states national priorities relating to fisheries trade and subsidies.
Update the member states on the WTO fisheries subsidies text and state of play for MC 11
Discuss the WTO MC 11 integrated vertical text and formulate a position on the proposals on disciplining harmful fisheries subsidies rules based on the recommendations from the OECS Member States.

10. Focal Areas covered in regional workshop
The general overview of world fisheries and trade trends & issues leading to the elimination of harmful subsidies, overfishing, over capacity and Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU).
Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) position regarding the fisheries subsidies negotiating vertical text
Recap of 2017 CARICOM and OECS fisheries subsidies meetings
WTO fisheries subsidies Chair’s update on fisheries subsidies negotiations as of November
Detailed state of play of the WTO fisheries subsidies vertical text negotiations
Development of OECS negotiating position

11. Outcomes : capacity built
For the Member States
For the Commission
an understanding of the UNFAO instruments for fisheries management.
Fisheries Officers better understand WTO fisheries trade talks
Fisheries officers able to marry the issues, which face the fisheries trade sector from a trade perspective
Better understanding of different types of subsidies and the impact
Trade and fisheries expert network
Increased ability to analyse textual proposals submitted to WTO
members challenges, profile, technical requirements identified
A clear OECS negotiating position developed

12. Lessons Learnt Empirical data on fishing sector is important
Input of national & regional fisheries experts essential
Trade & fisheries experts must collaborate
Geneva Mission requires regular instructions and feedback
financial support required to continue
That there are statistical gaps of the OECS region in the global fisheries figures – especially under the number of fishers involved in fishing. It was explained that data sharing and reporting is dependant on FAO member countries reporting their data and complying with the fisheries and trade data submissions. If countries do not report or have gaps in their fisheries and trade data, then their representation is not adequately covered.
There is a greater need of OECS Member States in-country coordinated approaches between fisheries and trade ministries. This inter-sectorial cooperation will foster development of a common understanding of fisheries stock status (which stocks are overfished) and economic values on the type of subsidies provided by governments (what is the cost of operations) which is yet not studied collectively.

13. Next steps Member States provide feedback Participate in WTO NGR
Reconvene regional group
Participate in WTO NGR
Member States provide feedback

14. Thank you
oecs.org