Guatemala officially deposited its instrument of acceptance for the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on March 10, 2025.
Ambassador Eduardo Ernesto Sperisen-Yurt presented the document to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, signaling the country’s commitment to addressing global fisheries’ challenges.
Okonjo-Iweala expressed her appreciation for Guatemala’s decision, stating, “I warmly welcome Guatemala’s formal acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Guatemala’s diverse marine ecosystems highlight the importance of sustainable fisheries for biodiversity, food security, and livelihoods in coastal communities. This commitment marks an essential step toward strengthening environmental and economic resilience both in Guatemala and globally. With just 19 more formal acceptances, the Agreement is one step closer to entering into force.”
Ambassador Sperisen-Yurt emphasized the significance of Guatemala’s action, saying, “By accepting the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, Guatemala reaffirms its dedication to sustainable marine resource management and responsible governance. This step demonstrates our commitment to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU), recognizing the vital role the fisheries sector plays in food security and economic development. We call on other WTO members to follow suit, enabling the early entry into force of this critical Agreement.”
Guatemala’s deposit of its instrument brings the total number of WTO members who have accepted the Agreement to 92. The Agreement will enter into force once two-thirds of WTO members formally accept it, with just 19 more acceptances needed to trigger implementation.
Adopted by consensus during the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva on June 12-17, 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets binding multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies that contribute to the depletion of global fish stocks. It also addresses the needs of developing and least-developed countries, providing technical assistance and capacity-building support to help them meet their obligations under the Agreement.
The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, fishing on overfished stocks, and fishing in unregulated areas of the high seas. In addition, WTO members agreed to continue negotiations on outstanding issues to strengthen the Agreement’s provisions further.
Guatemala’s acceptance is a significant milestone in the global effort to ensure the sustainability of marine resources for future generations.
