International Trade and Fisheries: Implications for Fisheries Management and Development of Small Vulnerable Caribbean States

The Doha Round of WTO negotiations which were launched in 2001 established a mandate for negotiations on Fisheries Subsidies. Small vulnerable economies have specific concerns in these negotiations with regard to special and differential treatment, artisanal and small scale fisheries, jurisdiction (WTO vs FAO) and the potential of modalities on fisheries subsidies to shape the management of fisheries industries. Small states in the Caribbean attach an importance to fisheries that far exceeds the contribution of the sector to national GDP. International disciplines on fisheries subsidies must give due consideration to providing the requisite policy space for the achievement of development objectives of small, vulnerable economies. The absence of such space can have important ramifications with regard to the sustainable management and development of the use of regional fisheries resources.