New Delhi, Nov 8 (PTI) In a major move to unlock the potential of India’s vast marine resources, the Center has announced new rules for deep-sea fishing in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), with a focus on empowering fishermen, cooperatives and small-scale fishermen, while banning foreign vessels from operating in Indian waters.
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The rules, announced on November 4, comply with the 2025-26 budget announcement and are expected to open new avenues for India’s marine fisheries sector, particularly in tapping high-value tuna resources that have remained largely untapped despite the neighboring country’s fishing in the Indian Ocean region, the fisheries ministry said in a statement.
Here’s what the new framework brings
The new framework favors fishing cooperatives and fish producer organizations (FFPOs) for conducting deep-sea fishing operations using technologically advanced vessels.
A key innovation is the introduction of the mother-child vessel concept, which allows transshipment at sea under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations, which is particularly beneficial for Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands, which account for 49 percent of India’s VEZ area.
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In order to protect the marine ecosystem, the rules prohibit harmful fishing practices such as LED light fishing, pair trawling and bull trawling.
Minimum legal sizes for fish species will be prescribed and fisheries management plans will be developed in consultation with stakeholders, including state governments.
Under the new rules, mechanized and large motorized vessels will require an Access Pass, which can be obtained free of charge through the ReALCRaft online portal.
The exception is traditional and small-scale fishermen operating motorized or non-motorized vessels. The digital system is designed to be time-bound, allowing shipowners to submit applications with minimal documentation and track applications in real-time without visiting any office.
Currently, around 2.38 lakh fishing vessels in 13 coastal states and Union territories are registered on the portal. While about 1.72 lakh small vessels are exempted, about 64,187 mechanized fishing vessels will have to obtain access cards for EEZ operations.
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Are foreign fishing vessels allowed access?
It is essential that foreign fishing vessels are not allowed to obtain an access pass under any arrangement in order to protect the interests of small-scale fishermen.
The ReALCRaft portal is integrated with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Export Control Council (EIC) for issuing catch and fish health certificates, which are key requirements for exporting seafood to premium international markets.
This integrated digital system ensures end-to-end traceability, hygiene compliance and eco-labelling, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of Indian seafood products.
The rules also bring regulatory reforms that recognize fish sources from India’s EEZ beyond the contiguous zone as “Indian origin” under tax and customs norms, so they are not treated as “imports” when landed at Indian ports.
Government will provide comprehensive support through training programmes, international visits and capacity building initiatives across the value chain, including processing, value addition, marketing, branding and exports.
Access to credit will be facilitated under flagship schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
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To ensure safety and security, the rules mandate the use of transponders for deep-sea fishing vessels and Aadhaar cards/Fisheries ID cards with QR code for identification.
The ReALCraft app has been integrated with the Nabhmitra app used by fishermen for safe navigation, which will also help maritime law enforcement agencies, including the Indian Coast Guard and Navy, to strengthen coastal security.
Coast of India
India’s coastline of 11,099 km and EEZ of more than 23 million square kilometers provide livelihood to more than 50 million people in the fishing community.
India ranks second globally in fish and aquaculture production with seafood exports ₹60,000 million crowns.
However, the full potential of the country’s exclusive economic zone, especially the high-value deep-sea resources, including tuna, remained untapped.
Countries including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Indonesia, Iran and European nations currently fish for significant amounts of tuna in the Indian Ocean region, while India’s fishing fleets are largely confined to coastal waters.
The new rules mark a shift towards community-led models that combine digital innovation with sustainable fishing practices to strengthen India’s position in the global seafood trade while protecting marine ecosystems.
Key things
- India has announced new rules for deep-sea fishing in the country’s exclusive economic zone.
- India’s coastline of 11,099 km and EEZ of more than 23 million square kilometers provide livelihood to more than 50 million people in the fishing community.
- The new rules mark a shift towards community-led models that combine digital innovation with sustainable fishing practices,
