The World Trade Organization marked a significant milestone on Monday when its Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies officially entered into force, committing members to curb harmful government support that depletes marine life and threatens the livelihoods of millions dependent on fishing.

At a special session of the General Council, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala hailed the pact as a "landmark for global trade governance," crediting members for prioritizing sustainability over short-term gains. The agreement, the WTO's first with environmental protection at its heart, prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, overfished stocks, and unregulated high-seas activities – practices that contribute to the overexploitation of 35.5 percent of global fish stocks, up from 10 percent in 1974.

The entry into force followed acceptances from Brazil, Kenya, Vietnam, and Tonga, pushing ratifications past the two-thirds threshold of 164 members. Okonjo-Iweala signed the depositary notification, handing it to General Council Chair Ambassador Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel of Saudi Arabia, who noted the political will required across capitals. Mali and Oman are set to deposit soon, bringing the total to 111.

Adopted by consensus at the 2022 Ministerial Conference, the deal addresses an estimated $35 billion in annual global fisheries subsidies, $22 billion of which are deemed harmful. Okonjo-Iweala urged the remaining members to ratify by the 2026 Ministerial Conference, emphasizing multilateralism's role in tackling shared challenges. "This Agreement demonstrates how you can put trade in the service of both people and planet," she said.

Implementation will be overseen by a new Committee on Fisheries Subsidies for transparency and dialogue. The WTO Fish Fund, with over $18 million pledged from 17 members, supports developing nations through technical aid, with its first grants open for applications until October 9.

Congratulatory messages from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, and leaders like Barbados' Mia Mottley underscored the pact's global significance for food security and coastal communities.