Tomorrow, on Thursday 15 July 2021, the World Trade Organization is convening a Special Ministerial Meeting to discuss the negotiations for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 Target 6 (SDG14.6) – the elimination of fisheries subsidies contributing to overfishing, overcapacity and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). As part of its longstanding efforts to end harmful fisheries subsidies, Friends of Ocean Action organised the webinar “Global Voices for an End to Harmful Fisheries Subsidies in 2021: WTO fisheries negotiations – is there light at the end of the tunnel?” The webinar included 11 speakers from 8 countries in civil society, international organizations, private sector and the WTO itself, and was attended by scores of participants including delegates from the World Trade Organization.

2021 must be the year that brings about a breakthrough in the 20-year negotiations of fisheries subsidies that fund poverty. This webinar provided the stories, context, nuance and way forward to illuminate the issue of harmful fisheries subsidies and can be rewatched here.