The papers comprise background information and discussion guidelines by the FAO Secretariat; a thorough and exhaustive review of the concepts that have been used to define fishery subsidies; a review of the published assessment of the public sector subsidies to the fishery sector and their impact on trade of fish and fish products and fishery resource sustainability; and a review of methodologies used to assess the trade-distorting impact of subsidies to the fishery sector.

The Consultation defined four sets of subsidies and recommended that these " Sets of subsidies" be referred to in future discussions and analysis of subsidies. The experts concluded that empirical knowledge of impact is extremely weak. This is true both in respect of impact on trade and impact on fishery resources. The Consultation identified priorities for further research about the impact of subsidies. In respect of impact on fishery resources, priority for future study was given for the following categories : "capital expansion", "tax waivers and deferrals" and "price support". With respect to impact on trade, the experts assigned priorities to future study of actions that would "reduce the relative price of inputs" and "reduce fishing effort" and to management and regulatory actions. The experts also discussed the methods that would be best suited to carry out these studies.

The consultation reviewed an FAO guide for identifying, assessing and reporting on subsidies. It recommended that FAO support Members in undertaking studies based on the guide. The experts considered it important that available methodologies be used to assess impacts flowing from actions taken by recipients of subsidies on environment, trade, economic growth and social conditions.

This book provides a comprehensive examination of the different aspects of IUU fishing and the various measures embodied in international fisheries and related instruments, and those adopted by regional fisheries management organisations and individual States to combat IUU fishing.

Chapter 3 National Experiences with Subsidies, their Impacts and Reform Processes; Introduction; Fisheries Subsidies: The Senegalese Experience; The Impact of Fisheries Subsidies on Tuna Sustainability and Trade in Ecuador; Fisheries Subsidy Reform in Norway; Common lessons from Senegal, Ecuador and Norway Cases; Chapter 4 Emergence of an International Issue: History of Fisheries Subsidies in the WTO; Introduction; Phase I: Early Analysis and Preliminary International Action; Phase II: Globalization and the Shift of Focus to the WTO; Phase III: The WTO Negotiations Take Shape

The agenda included two main issues: presentation and discussion of work programmes on subsidies in fishery by participating organizations; and challenges and possible way forward/issues for the future. While noting that collaboration among the agencies concerned has been ongoing for some time, the meeting identified a number of additional opportunities for collaboration and also actions for intergovernmental organizations and governments, respectively.