The weak property rights regime governing the world’s marine resources as well as the wide-spread large scale subsidisation of the fisheries industry has led to serious depletion of global fish stocks. Against this backdrop, taking cognizance of developing country goals and concerns, the Fourth Conference of the WTO held in Doha in 2001 mandated that negotiations over subsidies, formerly subject to the disciplines of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, be completed by 2005. In view of this development, a country like India with its vast and versatile resources has to take stock of the state of its fisheries sector, and develop a strategic response to the global debate on fisheries subsidies. This book aims to initiate that process.

It begins by providing an overview of the current state of subsidisation of the fisheries sector, both domestic and international, and then through case studies across both inland and marine sectors of India as well as several other countries, it examines the necessity and sufficiency of subsides vis-à-vis an appropriate property rights framework in developing the fisheries sector. This is followed by an analysis of the country submissions of the various major fishing nations in order to identify India’s natural allies and competitors in international negotiations. The book concludes with an agenda for reforms in fisheries subsidy regimes and suggests negotiating strategies for India in forthcoming WTO meetings.