Govt. plans a security protocol for CISF-supervised fishing ports

At present, there are a total of 1,547 notified fish landing centers and fishing ports in 13 coastal states and union territories. File photo for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: The Hindu

Around 1,200 fishing ports and landing sites are to come under the purview of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as part of the Union Home Ministry’s plan to fortify and secure the Indian coast.

A senior government official said that after allocating security-related duties at around 250 seaports to the CISF, the ministry is proposing to bring fishing ports and landing sites under the overall supervision of the CISF as well.

“It is not possible to deploy CISF personnel at all fishing ports, but CISF will be invited to design the security template and guide the local administration in managing the security protocol. From regulating movement of fishermen to biometric attendance system to providing smart ID cards, CISF can provide the overall framework,” the official said.

Currently, there are a total of 1,547 notified fish landing centers and fishing ports in 13 coastal states and the Union Territories of West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobarkshad Islands.

The fishing grounds are managed by both the State and Union Governments. While states are responsible for the management, maintenance and operation of fishing ports under their control after construction and have provisions for the management of such ports, ports under the control of the central government are under the auspices of Port Trusts, the Ministry of Fisheries informed the Rajya Sabha on 17 December 2025.

The official said several security agencies are deployed along the coast, ranging from the local police to the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy further out to sea.

“Since multiple agencies are involved, there is a lack of uniform security template. The CISF can be used to fill the gaps and also sensitize the local population on coastal security,” the official added.

26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai

Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive during the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, told investigators that he and other terrorists had come by sea from Pakistan as part of a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operation. They traveled from Karachi, hijacked an Indian fishing vessel and then used inflatable boats to land at a fishing colony in Colaba from where they entered the city.

In December 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a meeting to set up a specialized body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), for the security of vessels and port facilities. The body is still in production according to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (BCAS).

Earlier, to fill the gaps in coastal security, the Union government has appointed the CISF as the security regulator for over 250 seaports in the country. Officials said the government intends to deploy a “sovereign entity” in private seaports that handle cargo as well, bringing them under a unified security architecture. The CISF currently provides security for all 13 major seaports in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Andhra Pradesh. In 2023, following deliberations at the National Security Strategy Conference, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued guidelines to address seaport security. India has a coastline of 7,516 km.

Published – 28 May 2026 19:58 IST