Negotiations on fisheries subsidies have entered into the final rounds at WTO. From 5th to 9th October 2020, the WTO is holding 4 important meetings related to trade and subsidies in fisheries with the goal to wind up the final round of negotiations within 2020. The fisheries tycoons of rich countries, backed by their governments, are desperately trying to expose the small scale fishing communities to unjust and unfair competition to perpetuate their greed. The looters of fish resources of the world’s oceans are now out to rob the poor small scale fishing communities of the remnants of their livelihood. Subsidies for small scale fisheries serve much more as a tool to save sustainable livelihood and fish resources than as a mechanism to influence world trade. It also helps in much more equitable distribution of income in fisheries. Thus it relates to fisheries management, thereby going beyond the mandate of WTO. Small scale fisheries cannot agree to WTO proposed denial of subsidies either in all waters or in waters beyond territorial waters. We need subsidies irrespective of the water areas. Small scale fishers are against use of destructive fishing gears (bottom trawling, purse seining, LED light fishing etc.). They demand no subsidy for destructive fishing practices. They are also against overfishing as that hits them most. But overfishing capacities have to be determined in an area specific way. It has to be kept in mind that a small fishing vessel by western standard is a large one by Indian standards. Regarding the WTO proposal to deny subsidy to IUU (illegal, unregulated and unreported) fishing practices, small scale fishers have grave reservations. In a regime where registration and licensing systems are irregular, regulations remain largely on paper and reporting of fishing efforts is almost non-existent for small scale fisheries, this would mean outlawing of traditional livelihood practices and denying them legitimate entitlements. Denial of subsidies to marine small scale fishers will have its obvious impact on inland fisheries as well by affecting fisheries of water areas interfacing inland and marine as well as by impacting market mechanisms. Besides, many fisheries subsidies relate to both marine and inland fisheries. In view of the above Indian fisheries cannot accept determination of or disciplines on subsidies by WTO. India should strongly reject any disciplines especially since it is clear that the current special and differential treatment measures cannot protect the interest of small scale Indian fishers. NPSSFW has written to Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Commerce and Industry Minister under intimation to – 1. Santiago Wills, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Colombia to the WTO, and Chair, Negotiating Group on Rules on Fisheries Subsidies. 2. Dr. Anup Wadhwan, Commerce Secretary, Government of India. 3. Mr. Brajendra Navnit, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of India to the World Trade Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland. 4. Mr. P.S. Gangadhar, Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the WTO. 5. Dr. Rajeev Ranjan, Secretary, Fisheries, Department of Fisheries, Government of India.