India officially became the 123rd member of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on July 20, 2026.
The agreement mandates the curbing of harmful subsidies that drive illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing globally.
India’s aquaculture sector, including its vital shrimp export industry, remains fully exempt from these new WTO regulations.
The government will utilize the 2025 EEZ Rules and PMMSY initiatives to ensure compliance while protecting small-scale fishers.