This side event will showcase the role of trade, trade policies, and a rules-based global trading system in the sustainable fisheries value chain.
Sustainable fisheries are vital to global food security, marine ecosystem health, and the livelihoods of coastal rural communities. However, over exploitation, harmful subsidies, and limited integration of small-scale fisheries into global markets continue to threaten marine biodiversity and hinder progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The session will examine how global trade rules, such as the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, help prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, over fishing, and overcapacity. It will also highlight how trade policy innovation can strengthen sustainable fisheries, improve resource governance, and ensure more equitable distribution of economic benefits while safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) suffer disproportionately from inequities in the ocean economy, such as unfair distribution of commercial fish catches, unequal participation in trade of ocean goods and services, and a lack of voice and power in decision-making processes related to ocean economic and financial governance. As a result, they receive fewer financial benefits from the ocean economy.
The session will take stock of these challenges, with data and analysis from UNCTAD and ODI, and case studies from the Maldives and French Overseas Territories. Speakers will also highlight initiatives and examples of governance reforms that have enhanced ocean equity and unlocked finance for small island nations.
Panelists:
- Ms. Emily Wilkinson, Acting Head of the Risk and Resilience Programme, The Overseas Development Institute, UK
- Mr. Ali Naseer Mohamed, Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Penipotentiary, Maldives Mission to the UN
- Ms. Rebecca Fabrizi, UK Special Envoy for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Deputy Director for the Americas and Head if Caribbean and SIDS, FCDO
- Ms. Gail Hurley, Independent Advisor and Senior Researcher on Debt and Development Finance
- Ms. Chantal Line Carpentier, Head, Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch Division on International Trade and Commodities, UNCTAD
- Mr. James Ellsmoor, CEO, Island Innovation. Co-founder and Director, Solar Head of State
- Mr. Ahab Downer, Countrx Director, Fauna & Flora International (Cambodia)
Logistics:
This UNOC3 side event will be held in the Blue Zone: Port Lympia, 06300 Nice, France.
Access is restricted to accredited participants with official UNOC3 badges. This area hosts the main Conference sessions, high-level panels, and official side events.
Chantal Line Carpentier joined UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)'s Division on International Trade and Commodities (DITC) in 2014, after serving as Chief, UNCTAD New York Office of the Secretary-General. She brings to the Branch over 25 years of work experience in international trade, and environmental and agro-economics.
Prior to working with UNCTAD, she supported the Commission on Sustainable Development and served as Major Groups (of non-State actors) coordinator for the UN Rio+20 Conference and the SDGs negotiations at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). She also supported the sustainable consumption and production and sustainable agriculture negotiations.
As Head of the North American Free Trade Agreement Commission for Environmental Cooperations, she lead work on the nexus of environment, economy, and trade. She also served as Agro-environmental Policy Analyst for Winrock International, and post-Doctoral fellow/Brazil office manager for the International Food Policy Research Institute.
She has an extensive list of publications on sustainable agriculture, trade and environment, sustainable consumption and production, financing for sustainable development, stakeholder engagement, global value chains, micro, small and medium enterprises, and economic empowerment of women.
She obtained a PhD. in Agro-Environmental Economics from Virginia Technology and MSc. and BSc. from McGill University.
