Trade and Environment Briefings: Sustainable Fisheries - Policy Brief 4

Fish and fishery products represent one of the most extensively traded commodities in the world. Trade is especially strong among developing countries, which produce nearly three times as much fish as developed countries. However, their future trade and development possibilities in this sector have been jeopardised by over-exploitation and the effects of climate change, which have severely stressed global fish stocks. The adoption of green fishing practices, reforming distorting subsidies and eliminating trade barriers, are needed to ensure the long-term viability of the fisheries trade. This would allow developing countries to exploit the full potential of the sector to spur domestic social development while transitioning to a green economy.