The Plenary of the House of Representatives (HoR) has mandated its relevant committees to review the Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
The Protocol Agreement was submitted to the House for ratification by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Tuesday, June 17, during the 10th day sitting of the 2nd Quarter of the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature.
The WTO Agreement on Fishery Subsides bans subsides for harmful fishing activities that threaten ocean sustainability.
It also requires members of the WTO to prohibit subsidies vessels involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, overfished stocks, and unregulated high seas fishing.
When ratified by the legislature, the country will benefit by enhancing the sustainability of its marine fisheries, supporting 33,000 small-scale fishers’ livelihoods as well as allows the country to seek assistance from the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism for technical
support and capacity- building.
After reading the instrument and deliberations on the floor, the House Plenary mandate it committee on Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries and Judiciary to review and advise the body within two weeks.