Ten of the world’s largest seafood companies, grouped together as SeaBOS, have stated that harmful subsidies that they see as a barrier to sustainable industry transformation should be phased out.
In a statement released ahead of next month’s UN Ocean conference and signed by chair Therese Log Bergjord, SeaBOS states its position that the continued use of harmful subsidies would obstruct further efforts to make the seafood industry more sustainable.
SeaBOS members seek to encourage governments to limit any exceptions to the rules and include safeguards and additional scrutiny to ensure subsidies allowed do not contribute to IUU fishing or overfishing.
‘The science is clear: harmful subsidies represent a barrier towards a healthy ocean, a thriving seafood sector, and coastal livelihoods,’ SeaBOS states, describing harmful subsidies as those that incentivise overcapacity and lead to overfishing.
‘Government subsidies can be an important policy tool for advancing sustainability, but they can also have detrimental effects.’
The SeaBOS are not hiding the fact that during the long histories of the ten concerned companies, they have benefitted from government subsidies for vessel construction, development of aquaculture, access to cheaper fuel, and more.
‘We have been aware of the negotiations within the WTO on fisheries subsidies and noted the long process that has led to the draft text tabled in November 2021. We recognise the important progress that has been made within those negotiations and urge governments to take all possible steps to conclude an agreement on phasing out harmful subsidies,’ SeaBOS states.
‘As members of the seafood industry, we see an urgent need to utilise every policy tool available to reduce IUU fishing and reduce pressure on fish stock populations that are harvested above scientific advice. Reducing harmful subsidies is an important step in that direction, and towards achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.’
