Political Milestone in Marine Conservation

On September 15, 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement to stop harmful fisheries subsidies entered into force. M.E.E.R. was part of an initiative by a coalition of countless environmental organizations worldwide that had supported these political developments for years. In July 2025, for example, we—together with other NGOs—signed a letter to the European Commission criticizing the Spanish fishing industry and its contribution to the destabilization of various deep-sea protected areas. Through this, we are jointly taking a stand against the ongoing overfishing of our oceans and advocating for a just treatment of our aquatic co-inhabitants.

The agreement had long been overdue in order to put an end to the rampant government subsidies for fishing fleets that contribute to the overexploitation of fish populations. Its development took many years and repeatedly faced strong resistance from the fishing industry. All the more reason to celebrate now that it has entered into force.

More about the international NGO initiative “Stop Funding Overfishing”: https://stopfundingoverfishing.com/