The Sub-Committee reports to FAO’s Committee on Fisheries (COFI) and gives guidance on FAO’s work related to international fish trade. In recent years, with the new multilateral trade negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the introduction of more restrictive import requirements for food products in most fish importing countries, the discussions of the Sub-Committee have taken on an added relevance.

In particular, the work of the Sub-Committee includes:

• periodic reviews on the situation and outlook of principal fishery commodity markets covering all factors influencing them;
• on the basis of special studies, discussion of specific fish trade problems and possible solutions;
• discussion of suitable measures to promote international trade in fish and fishery products and formulation of recommendations to improve the participation of developing countries in this trade, including trade-related services;
• in conjunction with the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, formulation of recommendations for the promotion of international quality standards and the harmonization of quality control and inspection procedures and regulations; and,
• consultation and formulation of recommendations for economically viable fishery commodity development, including processing methods, the upgrading of products and production of final products in developing countries.

The Sub-Committee on Fish Trade was established by the COFI in 1985 and meets every two years. Initially, it convened in Rome but since 1996 meets in Bremen, Germany. It is open to all Member Nations of the FAO and Observers.