Samoa is one of three (3) WTO members (along with Paraguay and Saint Vincent and Grenadines) to submit its Instrument of Acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (“Fisheries Agreement”), bringing the total number of members who have formally accepted the Fisheries Agreement to 119.
Hon. Fata Ryan Schuster, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour; and Trade Negotiations, formally submitted Samoa’s Instrument of Acceptance of the Fisheries Agreement to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, during the Opening Ceremony of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14), in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The presentation was part of the celebration of the entry into force of the Fisheries Agreement.
Adopted in June 2022 at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva, the Fisheries Agreement enters into force once two-thirds of members deposit their Instruments of Acceptance with the WTO. This threshold was achieved on 15 September2025. The Fisheries Agreement is the first WTO agreement focused on ocean sustainability, requiring members to formalise their commitment to prohibit harmful fisheries subsidies, a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks.
The Fisheries Agreement marks a significant global step towards addressing harmful fisheries subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (“IUU”) fishing, overfished stocks, and unsustainable fishing practices in the high seas. These challenges continue to threaten marine ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of global fish stocks.
For Samoa, the ocean is central to its way of life – it supports livelihoods, provides food security, and forms an integral part of our cultural identity. As a Small Island Developing State, Samoa places the highest priority on the sustainable management and protection of its ocean resources.
By formally accepting the Fisheries Agreement, Samoa reaffirms its strong commitment to ocean sustainability, safeguarding livelihoods, and ensuring that marine resources continue to benefit present and future generations.
To support implementation, a dedicated Fisheries Fund has been established under the WTO to assist developing and least-developed countries, including Small Island Developing States, in building capacity, strengthening sustainable fisheries management systems, and complying with notification and transparency obligations under the Fisheries Agreement.
The Fisheries Agreement is only the second agreement reached at the WTO, since its inception in 1995. Trade ministers at MC14 are considering a draft decision to continue negotiations for additional disciplines on certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing.
Government of Samoa press release issued in Yaoundé, Cameroon on 26 March 2026.
