New Delhi, July 21 -- India has joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS), the government announced on Monday.

The formal acceptance was handed over by Rajesh Agrawal, India's commerce secretary to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-general of the WTO in Geneva.

The decision reaffirms India's commitment to sustainable fisheries management while preserving marine resources as a source of food security, livelihoods and employment for coastal communities, according to a statement issued by the ministry of commerce and industry.

India has become the 123rd WTO member to formally accept the agreement.

The pact focuses on subsidies related to marine wild-capture fishing and fishing-related activities at ...