The entry into force of the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) marks a pivotal moment in global trade and environmental governance. For Africa, a continent with both vast marine resources and a deep reliance on them, this is more than a technical trade measure—it is a safeguard for livelihoods, food security, and sovereignty. With harmful subsidies finally curtailed at a multilateral level, Africa gains an opportunity to level the playing field in global fisheries while strengthening the backbone of its blue economy.
For decades, Africa has been a victim of unequal competition. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing alone costs the continent up to $11.2 billion annually, stripping states of revenue while undermining food security. Industrial fleets, often propped up by government subsidies from outside the continent, have operated with impunity—draining fish stocks in the Gulf of Guinea, depleting shrimp and tuna reserves in the South-West Indian Ocean, and threatening ecosystems that millions of Africans rely on. The AFS directly addresses this by prohibiting subsidies for IUU fishing, subsidies for fishing overfished stocks, and subsidies for unregulated high seas fishing. For Africa, these are not abstract trade provisions—they are tools to reclaim stolen resources.
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Africa’s Stakes: Food, Jobs, and Security
The significance of the agreement becomes clear when one considers Africa’s reliance on aquatic foods. Fisheries and aquaculture contribute over $24 billion annually and support 12.3 million livelihoods. Small-scale fishers, responsible for over 60% of the continent’s catch and 90% of fish consumed, are particularly vulnerable to subsidized industrial fleets. Beyond economics, fisheries underpin social stability in coastal communities where fish provide up to 18% of animal-source protein. The AFS protects these small-scale producers from unfair competition, safeguarding not only jobs but also nutritional security for millions.
Continental Momentum: Africa Driving Global Change
Africa’s embrace of the agreement is evident—23 out of 45 WTO members on the continent have ratified it. This is not Africa as a passive recipient of global rules but as a driver of sustainability. With support from AUDA-NEPAD and international funding mechanisms, African governments now have the capacity to reform subsidy regimes, strengthen monitoring, and implement enforcement measures. Historically, the continent has often been on the losing end of international trade rules, but the AFS demonstrates a shift: a multilateral framework that recognises Africa’s development needs and gives it tools for sustainable growth.
This is not the first attempt to regulate the oceans in Africa’s favour. From the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which expanded Exclusive Economic Zones, to regional fisheries management organisations in West and East Africa, there has long been recognition of the need to protect Africa’s marine sovereignty. Yet enforcement challenges and unequal global markets meant that foreign industrial fleets continued to dominate. The WTO agreement, unlike past initiatives, places direct limits on the financial enablers of overfishing—subsidies—making it harder for unsustainable fleets to operate.
Why It Matters for Africa and the World
On a continental scale, the AFS aligns directly with Africa’s blue economy agenda, a pillar of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Aquaculture is already Africa’s fastest-growing food sector, expanding by 455% since 2000. By ensuring fish stocks are not depleted by subsidized exploitation, the agreement creates room for African-led industries—processing, aquaculture, and regional trade—to thrive. On a global level, Africa’s participation ensures that the sustainability agenda is not skewed toward the interests of developed economies alone, but is anchored in fairness and inclusivity.
Africa’s Blue Future: Implementation and Opportunity
Challenges remain. African governments must overhaul existing subsidy systems, scale up surveillance in their waters, and ensure the capacity to enforce IUU rules. Yet the opportunities are equally profound: healthier fish stocks, fairer competition, and space for innovation in aquaculture and blue economy industries. As negotiations continue on the “Fish 2” package to tackle overcapacity and overfishing subsidies, Africa’s unified stance will be critical in shaping a fairer global system.
The WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement represents a turning point. For too long, Africa’s seas have been plundered with little consequence for those responsible. Now, with binding global rules and special provisions for developing nations, the tide may finally turn. The stakes are enormous: jobs, food security, and sovereignty. For Africa, this agreement is not just about protecting fish—it is about protecting the future.
