The 13^th Ministerial Meeting (MC13) of the 166 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) slated for 26 to 28 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates attracted a lot of calls for an ambitious treaty to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. Be it the open letter by scientists from around the globe, be it civil society awareness campaigns, be it efforts by the chair and a number of government delegations and other ponderous voices, a very large chorus presented the evidence for gains from such an agreement. But despite the prolongation of MC13 it was not to be. What a missed opportunity!The ecological and economic waste prolonged by harmful subsidies will not go away by itself. It needs to be tackled with increased sense of urgency. Governments are not off the hook, and even 71 ratifications at last count in February of the limited agreement achieved at MC12 in 2022 does not make it over the finishing line. So stopping subsidies e.g. to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing vessels is not yet in force. It’s a huge disappointment and slap in the face particularly of countries in the Global South and the millions of men and women depending on prosperous small-scale fisheries. Having said this, giving up is not an option. Negotiations need to continue in Geneva and achieve consensus on effective measures to finally limit the on-going harm.

The confirmation that 2023 was the hottest year in recorded history and already hit the1.5°C warming threshold. Preparedness for more disasters is thus not a luxury but a high priority. But the highest priority is to stop the continued race to more resource extractions, more material extractions, more climate gas emissions, more plastic pollution. No number of planted trees or more sophisticated production technology can compensate for the unbroken trends. These are not individual or technical issues.

These are societal challenges which we can master together through more cooperation at all levels, reducing wasteful practices, addressing injustices that undermine the trust needed to transform the way we produce, consume, exchange goods and services and treat Mother Nature. The approaches of the Small-Scale Fisheries Academy for strengthening capacities for individual and collective action are thus more needed than ever.

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Mundus maris and the organisations we support in their struggles for a healthy ocean and blue justice say THANK YOU. Together we achieve more!

Cornelia Nauen and the entire Mundus maris Team

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