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Govt notifies rules to boost sustainable fisheries and empower coastal communities
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Wednesday, 12 November, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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In a major move to strengthen India’s blue economy and empower small-scale fisheries, the Government of India has notified the Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The new framework, announced recently aims to promote sustainable fishing, boost seafood exports, and create new livelihood opportunities for coastal communities.
The EEZ Rules, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of unlocking the potential of India’s marine sector, prioritize Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) for deep-sea fishing operations. These entities will now have access to advanced vessels, modern infrastructure, and capacity-building support to enhance productivity and profitability.
The initiative will particularly benefit the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, which together account for nearly half of India’s EEZ area. The introduction of the mother-and-child vessel model will enable mid-sea transshipment, reduce operational costs, and increase exports of high-value fish species like tuna.
To ensure transparency and safety, the government has introduced a digital Access Pass system through the ReALCRaft portal. While mechanized and large motorized vessels will require passes for EEZ operations, traditional and small-scale fishers using non-motorized crafts are exempted. The process is fully online, time-bound, and paperless, allowing easy tracking and faster approvals. The portal is also being integrated with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Export Inspection Council (EIC) to enable end-to-end traceability and compliance with export standards.
The EEZ Rules strictly prohibit harmful fishing methods such as LED light fishing, pair trawling, and bull trawling to protect marine biodiversity. A minimum legal fish size will also be introduced to prevent overfishing. The government plans to promote mariculture, including seaweed cultivation and sea-cage farming, as sustainable alternatives to nearshore fishing.
In a significant reform, fish caught from India’s EEZ will now be recognized as Indian origin under customs norms, ensuring that the sector’s revenue is duly accounted for domestically. A National Plan of Action will also be implemented to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
With these reforms, the government aims to transform marine fisheries governance through technology, transparency, and inclusivity—paving the way for sustainable growth, stronger exports, and empowered coastal livelihoods.
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