Venomous%20sharks%20have%20been%20discovered%20living%20and%20breeding%20in%20the%20Thames%2C%2064%20years%20after%20the%20river%20was%20declared%20biologically%20dead.%0A%0AThe%20first%20'health%20check'%20of%20the%20river%20since%20then%20has%20also%20revealed%20that%20seahorses%2C%20oysters%20and%20seals%20live%20in%20the%20Thames%20alongside%20the%20venomous%20Spurdog%20shark.%0A%0ASpurdogs%20swim%20in%20shoals%20and%20have%20two%20dorsal%20fins%20which%20release%20venom.%20This%20venom%20can%20cause%20extreme%20discomfort%20and%20swelling%20in%20humans.%0A%0AAccording%20to%20the%20Zoological%20Society%20of%20London%20(ZSL)%20the%20Thames%20is%20now%20teeming%20with%20life%20and%20supports%20over%20115%20species%20of%20fish%20and%2092%20species%20of%20bird%20in%20its%20almost%20600%20hectares%20of%20saltmarsh.%0A%0ATope%2C%20Starry%20Smoothhound%20and%20Spurdog%20sharks%20are%20using%20the%20river%20as%20a%20nursery%20as%20adults%20like%20pupping%20in%20shallow%20bays%20and%20estuaries.%0A%0AYoung%20sharks%20are%20remaining%20there%20for%20up%20to%20two%20years.%0A%0ACritically%20endangered%20eels%20also%20seem%20to%20be%20making%20a%20comeback.%0A%0AAlison%20Debney%2C%20of%20ZSL%2C%20said%3A%20%22Estuaries%20are%20one%20of%20our%20neglected%20and%20threatened%20ecosystems.%0A%0A%22This%20report%20has%20enabled%20us%20to%20really%20look%20at%20how%20far%20the%20Thames%20has%20come%20on%20its%20journey%20to%20recovery%20since%20it%20was%20declared%20biologically%20dead%2C%20and%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20set%20baselines%20to%20build%20from%20in%20the%20future.%22%0A%0AThis%20first%20State%20of%20the%20Thames%20Report%20also%20shows%20how%20the%20river%20is%20helping%20protect%20vulnerable%20animals%20and%20identifies%20the%20threats%20it%20faces%20from%20climate%20change.%0A%0ASince%20the%20early%201990s%2C%20the%20number%20of%20fish%20species%20in%20tidal%20areas%20has%20declined%20-%20and%20we're%20not%20sure%20why.%0A%0AMoreover%2C%20the%20temperature%20of%20the%20capital's%20waterway%20has%20risen%20by%200.2C%20per%20year%20in%20recent%20times%20which%2C%20combined%20with%20sea%20level%20rises%2C%20is%20worrying%20for%20wildlife.%0A%0AYet%2C%20water%20quality%20has%20improved%20with%20dissolved%20oxygen%20(DO)%20concentrations%20showing%20a%20positive%2C%20long-term%20increase%20from%202007%20to%202020.%0A%0ALess%20than%2045%25%20DO%20can%20kill%20fish%20and%20impact%20relationships%20between%20key%20species%20that%20live%20in%20the%20river.%0A%0AOverall%2C%20phosphorus%20concentrations%20have%20decreased%20since%20the%201990s%20thanks%20to%20improvements%20at%20sewage%20treatment%20works%2C%20but%20there%20has%20been%20a%20long-term%20increase%20in%20nitrate%20concentrations%20which%20can%20damage%20wildlife.%0A%0AThe%20Environment%20Agency%20has%20identified%20industrial%20and%20sewage%20waste%20as%20the%20main%20source%20of%20nitrate%20in%20London's%20waters.%0A%0ALiz%20Wood-Griffiths%2C%20head%20of%20consents%20at%20Tideway%2C%20said%3A%20%22This%20report%20comes%20at%20a%20critical%20time%20and%20highlights%20the%20urgent%20need%20for%20the%20Thames%20Tideway%20Tunnel%2C%20known%20as%20London's%20new%20super%20sewer.%0A%0A%22The%20new%20sewer%2C%20which%20is%20due%20to%20be%20complete%20in%202025%2C%20is%20designed%20to%20capture%20more%20than%2095%25%20of%20the%20sewage%20spills%20that%20enter%20the%20River%20from%20London's%20Victorian%20sewer%20system.%0A%0A%22It%20will%20have%20a%20significant%20impact%20on%20the%20water%20quality%2C%20making%20it%20a%20much%20healthier%20environment%20for%20wildlife%20to%20survive%20and%20flourish.%22%0A%0AIn%20addition%2C%20there%20are%20many%20chemicals%20of%20concern%20that%20are%20not%20being%20regularly%20monitored%20which%20have%20potentially%20harmful%20impacts%20on%20wildlife.

Aggressive 6ft sharks discovered 'living in Thames' and breeding in shallow waters

The%20cause%20of%20the%20mass%20death%20of%20tons%20of%20fish%20is%20unexplained%20but%20some%20people%20fear%20it%20may%20have%20something%20to%20do%20with%20the%20release%20of%20radioactive%20water%20from%20the%20ruined%20Fukushima%20nuclear%20plant%20into%20the%20sea%0A%0APeople%20in%20northern%20Japan%20have%20been%20warned%20not%20to%20eat%20dead%20fish%20that%20have%20been%20washed%20up%20on%20a%20beach%20because%20no%20one%20knows%20why%20they%20died.%0A%0AThousands%20of%20tons%20of%20sardine%20and%20mackerel%20have%20covered%20almost%20a%20mile%20of%20coastline%20in%20Hakodate%20on%20Japan's%20northernmost%20main%20island%20of%20Hokkaido%2C%20with%20experts%20suggesting%20a%20number%20of%20reasons%20why%20the%20incident%20has%20happened.%20And%20there%20has%20been%20speculation%20that%20the%20release%20of%20treated%20radioactive%20water%20from%20the%20Fukushima%20nuclear%20plant%20could%20be%20at%20the%20root%20of%20the%20problem.%0A%0AThere%20have%20been%20several%20recorded%20cases%20of%20similar%20phenomena%20springing%20up%20on%20several%20parts%20of%20Japan's%20coastline.%20Local%20residents%20said%20they%20have%20never%20seen%20anything%20like%20it%20and%20some%20gathered%20the%20fish%20to%20sell%20or%20eat.%20But%20a%20notice%20posted%20on%20the%20town's%20website%20has%20warned%20residents%20off%20using%20the%20dead%20creatures.%0AThe%20phenomenon%20is%2C%20as%20yet%2C%20unexplained%2C%20but%20Takashi%20Fujioka%2C%20a%20Hakodate%20Fisheries%20Research%20Institute%20researcher%2C%20suggested%20a%20number%20of%20theories%20as%20to%20why%20the%20fish%20could%20have%20died%20en-masse.%20He%20said%20they%20may%20have%20been%20chased%20by%20larger%20fish%2C%20become%20exhausted%20due%20to%20a%20lack%20of%20oxygen%20while%20moving%20in%20a%20densely%20packed%20school%20in%20shallow%20waters%2C%20and%20were%20washed%20up%20by%20the%20waves%2C%20or%20may%20have%20suddenly%20entered%20cold%20waters%20during%20their%20migration%20and%20succumbed%20to%20shock.%0A%0AHowever%2C%20there%20are%20fears%20in%20some%20quarters%20that%20it%20has%20been%20caused%20by%20Japanese%20authorities%20releasing%20treated%20radioactive%20water%20back%20into%20the%20sea%20three%20months%20ago%20%E2%80%93%20an%20action%20that%20has%20caused%20protests%20from%20the%20country's%20neighbours%20including%20China%20and%20South%20Korea.%0A%0AJapanese%20seafood%20has%20since%20been%20banned%20by%20Chinese%20authorities%2C%20who%20have%20said%20the%20move%20is%20%22extremely%20selfish%20and%20irresponsible%22%2C%20with%20the%20Chinese%20Communist%20Party's%20flagship%20newspaper%20The%20Global%20Times%20suggesting%20it%20could%20open%20%22Pandora's%20box%22%20and%20spark%20fears%20of%20a%20%22real-life%20Godzilla%22.%0A%0AAccording%20to%20ABC%20News%2C%20Fujioka%20said%20the%20decomposing%20fish%20could%20lower%20oxygen%20levels%20in%20the%20water%20and%20affect%20the%20marine%20environment%2C%20adding%3A%20%22We%20don't%20know%20for%20sure%20under%20what%20circumstances%20these%20fish%20were%20washed%20up%2C%20so%20I%20do%20not%20recommend%20eating%20them.%22%0A%0AThe%20Fukushima%20power%20plant%20was%20wrecked%20after%20an%20earthquake%20and%20resultant%20tsunami%20in%20March%202011.%20That%20destroyed%20the%20plant's%20cooling%20systems%2C%20causing%20three%20reactors%20to%20melt.%20Japanese%20authorities%20are%20using%20an%20undersea%20tunnel%20to%20discharge%20the%20radioactive%20water%20treated%20by%20the%20Advanced%20Liquid%20Processing%20System%2C%20which%20uses%20a%20process%20called%20isotopic%20dilution%20to%20render%20the%20water%20less%20dangerous.%0A%0AThis%20process%20sees%20tritium%20%E2%80%93%20a%20less%20harmful%20radioactive%20isotope%20%E2%80%93%20added%20to%20the%20contaminated%20water%20which%20is%20subsequently%20mixed%20with%20clean%20seawater%2C%20diluting%20the%20concentration%20of%20more%20harmful%20substances.%20Japanese%20officials%20claim%20that%20the%20treated%20water%20is%20safe.%0A%0ABut%20critics%20say%20a%20lack%20of%20long-term%20data%20means%20it%20is%20impossible%20to%20say%20with%20certainty%20that%20tritium%20poses%20no%20threat%20to%20human%20health%20or%20the%20marine%20environment%2C%20while%20Greenpeace%20said%20the%20radiological%20risks%20had%20not%20been%20fully%20assessed%20and%20that%20the%20biological%20impacts%20of%20tritium%20'have%20been%20ignored'.%20South%20Korean%20protestors%20also%20attempted%20to%20enter%20the%20Japanese%20embassy%20in%20Seoul%20carrying%20banners%20which%20read%20%22The%20sea%20is%20not%20Japan's%20trash%20bin%22.

Thousand of dead fish wash up on beach in Japan

German%20startup%20Bluu%20Seafood%20launched%20Europe%E2%80%99s%20first%20pilot%20plant%20for%20cultivated%20fish.%0A%0AThe%20facility%20in%20Hamburg%20brings%20lab-grown%20seafood%20a%20step%20closer%20to%20the%20market.%20Bluu%20had%20previously%20developed%20the%20controversial%20food%20in%20a%20small%20lab%20in%20L%C3%BCbeck%2C%20Germany.%20The%20new%20site%20expands%20the%20work%20across%202%2C000%20square%20metres%20of%20customised%20research%2C%20production%2C%20and%20office%20space.%0A%0AAt%20the%20plant%E2%80%99s%20core%20are%20new%20fermenters%20for%20cultivating%20muscle%2C%20fat%2C%20and%20tissue%20cells%20from%20Atlantic%20salmon%20and%20rainbow%20trout.%0A%0AThe%20current%20devices%20have%20a%20capacity%20of%2065%20litres.%20But%20Bluu%20said%20they%20can%20increase%20to%202%2C000%20litres%2C%20providing%20space%20to%20grow%20far%20larger%20quantities%20of%20fish.%0A%0AThe%20recipe%20begins%20by%20extracting%20cells%20from%20real%20salmon%20and%20trout.%20No%20animals%20are%20harmed%20during%20the%20making%20of%20this%20cuisine%2C%20Bluu%20promises.%20%0A%0AIn%20the%20temperature-controlled%20fermenters%2C%20oxygen%20and%20nutrients%20are%20fed%20to%20the%20cells%2C%20which%20then%20develop%20and%20multiply.%20Once%20fully%20grown%2C%20the%20cell%20mass%20is%20harvested%20and%20refined.%20It%E2%80%99s%20then%20formed%20into%20familiar%20products%2C%20such%20as%20fish%20sticks%20or%20fish%20balls.%0A%0A%3Cb%3ECultivated%20fish%20approaches%20the%20market%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0ABluu%20says%20the%20lab-grown%20products%20have%20a%20similar%20taste%2C%20nutritional%20content%2C%20and%20cooking%20behaviour%20to%20today%E2%80%99s%20supermarket%20versions.%20But%20cultivated%20fish%20sidesteps%20the%20GMOs%2C%20heavy%20metals%2C%20and%20microplastics%20that%20often%20contaminate%20conventional%20seafood.%0A%0AAnother%20selling%20point%20is%20the%20environmental%20impact.%20Almost%2090%25%20of%20global%20marine%20fish%20stocks%20are%20overfished%20or%20fully%20exploited%2C%20according%20to%20the%20UN.%20Industrial%20farming%20also%20pollutes%20its%20surroundings%20and%20creates%20hotbeds%20for%20disease.%0A%0ACultivated%20fish%20could%20offer%20a%20greener%20alternative.%20By%20opening%20the%20new%20plant%2C%20Bluu%20hopes%20to%20commercialise%20the%20process.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIf%20the%20scalability%20and%20market%20conditions%20are%20favourable%2C%20we%20will%20be%20able%20to%20offer%20cultivated%20fish%20at%20wholesale%20fish%20prices%20in%20as%20little%20as%20three%20years%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Sebastian%20Rakers%2C%20the%20startup%E2%80%99s%20co-founder%20and%20co-CEO.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20new%20site%20is%20an%20important%20building%20block%20in%20this%20development.%E2%80%9D%0A%0ATo%20meet%20that%20three-year%20deadline%2C%20Bluu%20will%20need%20regulatory%20support.%20The%20company%20expects%20Singapore%20to%20deliver%20the%20first%20approval%20in%20early%202025%2C%20followed%20by%20the%20US%20and%20EU.%0A%0AThat%20would%20echo%20the%20progression%20of%20cultivated%20meat%2C%20which%20was%20initially%20permitted%20for%20sale%20in%20Singapore.%20The%20US%20then%20followed%20suit.%20In%20Europe%2C%20applications%20are%20currently%20being%20reviewed.%0A%0AWith%20production%20plants%20and%20rubber%20stamps%20impending%2C%20cultivated%20fish%20is%20getting%20closer%20to%20our%20plates.

Europe’s first pilot plant for cultivated fish

For%20the%20first%20time%2C%20the%20amount%20of%20aquatic%20life%20%E2%80%94%20such%20as%20fish%2C%20clams%20and%20shrimp%20%E2%80%94%20that%20was%20farmed%20outpaced%20wild-caught%20aquatic%20life%20in%202022%2C%20according%20to%20the%20United%20Nations%E2%80%99s%20Food%20and%20Agriculture%20Organization%20(FAO).%0A%0AFor%20the%20first%20time%2C%20the%20amount%20of%20aquatic%20life%20%E2%80%94%20such%20as%20fish%2C%20clams%20and%20shrimp%20%E2%80%94%20that%20was%20farmed%20outpaced%20wild-caught%20aquatic%20life%20in%202022%2C%20according%20to%20the%20United%20Nations%E2%80%99s%20Food%20and%20Agriculture%20Organization%20(FAO).%0A%0AThe%20UN%20has%20noted%20that%20the%20rise%20in%20farmed%20fishing%20is%20a%20way%20to%20reduce%20food%20insecurity%2C%20as%20well%20as%20a%20way%20to%20minimize%20overfishing%20and%20unsustainable%20practices%20in%20the%20capture%20fishing%20industry%2C%20especially%20as%20the%20report%20predicted%20a%2010%25%20increase%20in%20aquatic%20animal%20production%20by%202032%20to%20meet%20an%20estimated%2012%25%20increase%20in%20demand%20for%20consumption.%20%0A%20%0AOverfishing%20is%20a%20major%20threat%20to%20aquatic%20life%2C%20contributing%20to%20the%20greatest%20rate%20of%20removing%20wildlife%20from%20their%20habitat%20than%20any%20other%20industry.%20According%20to%20the%20report%2C%20the%20amount%20of%20marine%20aquatic%20life%20that%20were%20fished%20within%20biologically%20sustainable%20levels%20declined%20in%202021%20by%202.3%25%20compared%20to%202019%20levels.%20%0A%20%0ABut%20aquaculture%20is%20not%20without%20its%20environmental%20concerns.%20As%20KQED%20reported%2C%20aquaculture%20can%20pollute%20waterways%20from%20the%20excess%20nutrients%20and%20fecal%20waste%20generated%20in%20aquatic%20farms.%20For%20larger%20fish%2C%20smaller%20fish%20may%20still%20be%20wild-caught%20to%20feed%20the%20farmed%20fish.%20Farmed%20fish%20can%20also%20be%20vulnerable%20to%20disease%20transmission%2C%20and%20they%20may%20pass%20those%20illnesses%20on%20to%20wild%20fish%2C%20the%20U.S.%20National%20Oceanic%20and%20Atmospheric%20Administration%20(NOAA)%20reported.%20%0A%20%0AAs%20The%20Associated%20Press%20reported%2C%20some%20of%20the%20most%20farmed%20aquatic%20life%20include%20freshwater%20carp%2C%20oysters%2C%20shrimp%2C%20clams%2C%20tilapia%20and%20prawns.%20Some%20of%20the%20most%20common%20captured%20aquatic%20life%20include%20skipjack%20tuna%2C%20Alaska%20pollock%20and%20Peruvian%20anchovies.

Aquatic farming surpasses fishing for first time

Canada%20will%20ban%20open-net%20salmon%20farms%20off%20the%20coast%20of%20British%20Columbia%20by%20the%20middle%20of%202029%20in%20order%20to%20help%20protect%20dwindling%20wild%20Pacific%20salmon%20populations%2C%20the%20federal%20government%20said%20on%20Wednesday.%0A%0ASalmon%20are%20a%20culturally%20and%20ecologically%20significant%20species%20on%20Canada's%20west%20coast%2C%20but%20more%20than%20half%20of%20the%209%2C000%20distinct%20populations%20in%20British%20Columbia%20are%20in%20a%20state%20of%20decline%2C%20according%20to%20the%20Pacific%20Salmon%20Foundation.%0A%0AThe%20province%20has%20dozens%20of%20open-net%20salmon%20farms%2C%20which%20campaigners%20say%20can%20spread%20lice%20and%20disease%20to%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecohubmap.com%2Flist%2FNGO%2Ffish%2Fall%22%20%3Ewild%20fish%3C%2Fa%3E.%20In%202019%20Liberal%20Prime%20Minister%20Justin%20Trudeau%20pledged%20to%20phase%20out%20open-net%20farms%20by%202025.%0A%0AIn%20a%20statement%20released%20on%20Wednesday%2C%20Fisheries%20and%20Oceans%20Minister%20Diane%20Lebouthillier%20said%20existing%20salmon%20aquaculture%20licenses%20will%20be%20renewed%20for%20five%20years%20to%20ensure%20a%20successful%20transition%2C%20but%20with%20stricter%20conditions%20around%20managing%20sea%20lice%20on%20farmed%20fish%2C%20reporting%20requirements%20for%20the%20industry%2C%20and%20monitoring%20of%20marine%20mammal%20interactions.%0A%0A%22It's%20great%20to%20see%20the%20federal%20government%20commit%20to%20concrete%20deadlines%2C%20even%20though%20they%20do%20not%20meet%20the%20government's%20original%20commitment%20to%20transition%20from%20open-net%20pens%20by%202025%20or%20the%20urgency%20of%20the%20moment%20given%20the%20dire%20state%20of%20many%20wild%20salmon%20runs%2C%22%20said%20Kilian%20Stehfest%2C%20marine%20conservation%20specialist%20for%20the%20David%20Suzuki%20Foundation.%0A%0ASalmon%20farming%20supports%207%2C000%20jobs%20in%20coastal%20communities%20and%20contributes%20about%20C%241.5%20billion%20(%241.09%20billion)%20annually%20to%20the%20provincial%20economy%2C%20according%20to%20the%20BC%20Salmon%20Farmers%20Association.%0A%0AA%20number%20of%20First%20Nations%20and%20coastal%20communities%20rely%20on%20open-net%20salmon%20farms%20for%20their%20livelihood%20and%20the%20government%20intends%20to%20release%20a%20draft%20salmon%20aquaculture%20transition%20plan%20by%20the%20end%20of%20July.%0A%0AFrom%20July%201%20this%20year%20only%20closed-containment%20systems%20on%20land%20or%20in%20the%20sea%20will%20be%20considered%20for%20new%20salmon%20aquaculture%20licenses.%0A%0ALebouthillier%20said%20the%20government%20recognized%20closed-containment%20systems%20would%20be%20a%20more%20expensive%20investment%20and%20planned%20to%20issue%20nine-year%20licenses%20to%20successful%20applicants%20to%20ensure%20greater%20certainty.%0A%0AWhile%20some%20Indigenous%20communities%20in%20British%20Columbia%20have%20been%20calling%20for%20an%20end%20to%20open-net%20salmon%20farms%2C%20others%20criticized%20Ottawa%20for%20lack%20of%20adequate%20consultation%20and%20the%20speed%20of%20the%20phase-out.%0A%0A%22Five%20years%20to%20transition%20to%20land-based%20or%20closed-containment%20in%20my%20territory%20is%20the%20same%20as%20shutting%20our%20operations%20down%2C%22%20said%20Hereditary%20Chief%20Hasheukumiss%20of%20the%20Ahousaht%20First%20Nation%20on%20the%20west%20coast%20of%20Vancouver%20Island%20at%20a%20press%20conference.%0A%0AThe%20British%20Columbia%20government%20urged%20Ottawa%20to%20support%20local%20communities%20through%20the%20transition%20period%20by%20funding%20new%20economic%20opportunities%20and%20creating%20good%20jobs.%0A%0A%22We%20recognize%20the%20importance%20of%20meaningful%20and%20thoughtful%20engagement%20with%20First%20Nations%20partners%20and%20communities%20as%20we%20move%20forward%2C%20in%20order%20to%20ensure%20that%20economic%20impacts%20are%20mitigated%2C%22%20federal%20Natural%20Resources%20Minister%20Jonathan%20Wilkinson%20said%20in%20a%20statement.

Canada to ban open net fish farms in BC by 2029

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Fishing in a vast Pacific nature area halted

The%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO)%20has%20officially%20launched%20a%20groundbreaking%20agreement%20aimed%20at%20reducing%20billions%20of%20dollars%20in%20subsidies%20that%20fuel%20overfishing%E2%80%94a%20move%20widely%20praised%20by%20environmental%20groups%20as%20a%20turning%20point%20for%20global%20marine%20conservation.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EFirst%20WTO%20agreement%20since%202017%20takes%20effect%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AThis%20milestone%20marks%20the%20first%20WTO%20agreement%20to%20come%20into%20force%20since%202017%2C%20following%20decades%20of%20stalled%20negotiations%20and%20political%20deadlock.%20The%20deal%2C%20initially%20reached%20in%202022%2C%20gained%20the%20required%20support%20on%20Monday%20after%20Brazil%2C%20Kenya%2C%20Tonga%2C%20and%20Vietnam%20ratified%20it%2C%20according%20to%20a%20WTO%20spokesperson.%0A%0A%3C%2Fh2%3EKey%20provisions%20of%20the%20WTO%20fishing%20subsidies%20deal%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AUnder%20the%20new%20rules%2C%20governments%20are%20prohibited%20from%20granting%20subsidies%20to%20fishing%20operations%20targeting%20overexploited%20fish%20stocks%20or%20operating%20in%20international%20waters%20beyond%20national%20jurisdiction.%20To%20support%20developing%20nations%2C%20the%20agreement%20also%20establishes%20a%20dedicated%20fund%20to%20help%20them%20adapt%20to%20the%20new%20restrictions.%0A%0AMegan%20Jungwiwattanaporn%20of%20the%20Pew%20Charitable%20Trusts%20hailed%20the%20decision%2C%20stating%20that%20global%20%E2%80%9Cfish%20stocks%20will%20finally%20have%20a%20chance%20to%20recover%2C%20directly%20benefiting%20coastal%20communities%20and%20small-scale%20fishers%20who%20rely%20on%20healthy%20oceans.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EThe%20Sscale%20of%20global%20fishing%20subsidies%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AAccording%20to%20a%202019%20Marine%20Policy%20study%2C%20governments%20worldwide%20spend%20approximately%20%2435.4%20billion%20annually%20on%20fishing%20subsidies%2C%20including%20fuel%20incentives%20that%20enable%20fleets%20to%20operate%20in%20distant%20oceans.%20The%20top%20five%20subsidizers%20were%20identified%20as%20China%2C%20the%20European%20Union%2C%20the%20United%20States%2C%20South%20Korea%2C%20and%20Japan%E2%80%94though%20not%20all%20of%20these%20fall%20directly%20under%20the%20scope%20of%20the%20current%20WTO%20agreement.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EChallenges%20Aahead%20in%20global%20fishing%20reforms%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AWhile%20the%20agreement%20is%20a%20significant%20breakthrough%2C%20negotiations%20on%20additional%20fishing%20rules%20remain%20unresolved.%20Countries%20such%20as%20India%20and%20other%20developing%20economies%20continue%20to%20push%20for%20exemptions%2C%20sparking%20debate%20among%20member%20states.%0A%0AThe%20current%20deal%E2%80%94over%2020%20years%20in%20the%20making%E2%80%94will%20automatically%20expire%20in%20four%20years%20unless%20more%20comprehensive%20rules%20are%20adopted.%20WTO%20Director-General%20Ngozi%20Okonjo-Iweala%20recently%20expressed%20optimism%20that%20negotiations%20could%20either%20finalize%20broader%20commitments%20or%20extend%20the%20agreement%20to%20prevent%20its%20collapse.