India unveils EEZ rules to boost sustainable fisheries

The Government of India has introduced the Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to strengthen the blue economy and empower small-scale fishers. The framework prioritizes Fishermen Cooperative Societies and FFPOs for deep-sea fishing, providing access to modern vessels, infrastructure, and training. With nearly half of India’s EEZ surrounding the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, the initiative seeks to tap into untapped deep-sea resources like tuna through the mother-and-child vessel model, designed for efficient mid-sea transshipment.

In a major step towards strengthening India’s blue economy and empowering small-scale fisheries, the Government of India has officially notified the Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The newly introduced framework aims to promote sustainable fishing practices, enhance seafood exports, and generate new livelihood opportunities for coastal communities.

This new framework is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of unlocking the full potential of India’s marine sector, the EEZ Rules place strong emphasis on Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs), granting them priority in deep-sea fishing operations. These entities will gain access to advanced fishing vessels, modern infrastructure, and extensive capacity-building support to improve productivity, profitability, and global competitiveness.

The initiative holds particular significance for the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, which together make up nearly half of India’s EEZ area. Exclusive Economic Zone is of more than 23 lakh square kilometers, giving livelihood support to more than 50 lakh fishermen community across 13 maritime states and UTs. Despite such a large area, full potential of the country’s EEZ hasn’t been utilized, specially in high valued resources in deep-sea including tuna resources, which remains untapped.

There has been a significant fishing in the Indian ocean by countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, Iran and European countries, catching high valued deep-sea fish varieties like tuna, however India is not able capture them, as they had lagged behind and are limited to nearshore waters. The new EEZ rules are expected to increase the sustainable fishing.

The introduction of the mother-and-child vessel model will facilitate mid-sea transshipment, lower operational costs, and boost exports of high-value fish species such as tuna. Introduced in line with Reserve Bank of India regulations to facilitate mid-sea transshipment, this model deploys large “mother” vessels that support smaller “child” boats, helping to ease shore congestion, extend fishing duration, and enhance operational efficiency.

Enhanced safety for fishers 

To ensure greater transparency, safety, and regulatory efficiency, the government has launched a digital Access Pass system via the ReALCRaft portal. Under this system, mechanized and large motorized vessels must obtain access passes for EEZ operations, while traditional and small-scale fishers using non-motorized crafts are exempted. The online, paperless, and time-bound process allows for faster approvals and real-time tracking. Additionally, the portal is being integrated with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Export Inspection Council (EIC) to ensure end-to-end traceability and full compliance with export standards.

The EEZ Rules impose strict prohibitions on destructive fishing practices such as LED light fishing, pair trawling, and bull trawling to safeguard marine biodiversity. They also introduce a minimum legal fish size to prevent overexploitation of marine resources. Furthermore, the government is promoting mariculture, including seaweed cultivation and sea-cage farming, as sustainable alternatives to nearshore fishing.

In a landmark policy reform, fish harvested from India’s EEZ will now be officially recognized as of Indian origin under customs regulations, ensuring that the revenue generated within the sector is accurately accounted for domestically. The government will also implement a National Plan of Action to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

Through these comprehensive reforms, the government aims to revolutionize marine fisheries governance with a focus on technology, transparency, and inclusivity—driving sustainable growth, strengthening exports, and empowering coastal communities across the nation.

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FAQs

1. What are the new EEZ rules?
They are government guidelines to promote sustainable fishing, improve seafood exports, and support small-scale fishers in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

2. What is India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?
It’s an area extending up to 200 nautical miles from India’s coast, covering over 23 lakh sq km, where India controls marine resource use.

3. Why are the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands important?
They make up nearly half of India’s EEZ and hold rich but untapped deep-sea fish resources like tuna.

4. How will these rules help fishermen?
They give priority to cooperatives and FFPOs, offering access to modern vessels, training, and digital systems to boost income and efficiency.

5. What is the mother-and-child vessel model?
It uses large “mother” vessels to support smaller boats for mid-sea transshipment, cutting costs and extending fishing time.