India's New Blue Economy Push

Editor/Mohamed Shihab

A new regulatory framework aims to unlock India’s vast marine fisheries potential by focusing on sustainable practices and deep-sea fishing in its Exclusive Economic Zone and the High Seas

In a move to harness India's enormous untapped marine wealth, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has released draft rules to enable sustainable fishing in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas. The initiative follows a pledge by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to create a framework that will boost marine production, with a special emphasis on the Andaman &Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.

Despite a coastline stretching 8,118 km and an EEZ of 2 million sq km with an estimated annual potential of 5.31 million metric tons, India's marine fish catch was only 4.49 million tons in 2023-24 and 4.43 million tons in 2022-23, less than a tenth of its capacity. The new regulations aim to close this gap by addressing the existing lack of a clear legal framework.

New Rules to Promote Sustainable, Regulated Fishing

The new guidelines are designed to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, a major global issue. They mandate that all Indian-flagged vessels must obtain a valid Letter of Authorisation (LOA) for a three-year period to fish in the High Seas. The rules also require vessels to comply with all measures set by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), including catch limits, gear restrictions, and bycatch mitigation.

Recognizing the need for a modern, skilled workforce, the framework includes provisions for training and capacity-building programs for traditional and small-scale fishers, helping them transition to more efficient, deep-sea operations.

The regulations are a key component of India’s broader Blue Economy strategy, which seeks to boost economic growth while ensuring the health of the marine ecosystem. This includes not only fisheries but also other sectors like offshore energy, marine tourism, and maritime transport.

Targeted Development in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep

A significant focus of the new policy is on the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which hold an EEZ of 660,000 sq km—roughly a third of India’s total EEZ—with a potential catch of 148,000 tons annually. The government has identified a specific tuna potential of 60,000 tons in the region and has notified the development of a “tuna cluster,” which will include on-board processing facilities, specialized vessel licensing, and streamlined clearances.

Similarly, the Lakshadweep Islands, with an EEZ of 400,000 sq km and a lagoon area of 4,200 sq km, have a fisheries potential of 100,000 tons, with 4,200 tons specifically for tuna. The government also plans to promote opportunities in sea cage culture, seaweed, ornamental, and pearl cultivation in both island groups, further diversifying marine economic activities.

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