The World Trade Organization has convened a meeting of trade ministers with the aim of encouraging long-term talks aimed at banning subsidies to overfishing fishermen. However, a number of controversies remain.
The organization's director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has expressed hope that the ministers meeting today from 164 WTO member states will succeed in reaching a historic agreement.
He said the oceans and planets were in dire straits and that the ministers should take advantage of the summit.
The aim of the talks at the trade ministers' meeting is to reach an agreement on banning subsidies that contribute to illegal fishing and illegal fishing.
According to the WTO, the annual grants amount to between $ 14 billion and $ 54 billion.
