{"id":52690,"date":"2025-08-30T19:15:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T13:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=52690"},"modified":"2025-09-04T13:48:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T08:18:12","slug":"indias-attempt-to-harness-its-marine-fisheries-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/30-08-2025\/indias-attempt-to-harness-its-marine-fisheries-potential","title":{"rendered":"India&#8217;s attempt to Harness its Marine Fisheries Potential"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Agriculture and Animal Husbandry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying recently released draft rules and guidelines to enable \u201csustainable\u201d fishing in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Potential of India\u2019s Fisheries Sector<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has a coastline of approximately <strong>11,098.81 km<\/strong>, with <strong>1,457 landing centres <\/strong>and <strong>3,461 fishing villages,<\/strong> providing a strong base for fisheries development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is the <strong>third largest fish-producing country<\/strong> in the world accounting for<strong> 8%<\/strong> of global production in 2022-2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The country\u2019s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spans nearly <strong>2 million sq km<\/strong>, with an estimated <strong>annual potential of 5.31 million metric tonnes (MMT) <\/strong>of capture fisheries.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s marine fish catch was recorded at <strong>44.95 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 <\/strong>and 44.32 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High-value tuna and tuna-like species<\/strong> have been identified as a major area for growth, particularly for exports.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Features of the New Regulatory Framework<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The draft guidelines mandate that no Indian-flagged vessel can fish in the High Seas without a <strong>Letter of Authorisation (LOA).<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The LOA will be <strong>valid for three years,<\/strong> ensuring regulatory oversight for a defined period.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The framework <strong>prohibits Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, <\/strong>aligning India with global fisheries governance standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indian vessels are required to comply with the conservation and management measures of <strong>Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs),<\/strong> including:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Catch limits,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gear restrictions,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bycatch mitigation,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fish Aggregation Device (FAD) management,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Voyage reporting requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The guidelines also provide for <strong>training and capacity-building programmes <\/strong>to help small-scale and traditional fishers participate in <strong>High Seas fishing<\/strong> and strengthen value-chain efficiencies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Focus on Andaman &amp; Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands<\/strong> account for 6.6 lakh sq km of EEZ, roughly <strong>one-third <\/strong>of India\u2019s total maritime zone.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A dedicated \u201ctuna cluster\u201d has been notified, <\/strong>which includes: On-board processing and freezing facilities, Licensing of deep-sea tuna vessels, A single-window clearance system administered by the Andaman &amp; Nicobar Administration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Lakshadweep Islands cover <\/strong>an EEZ of <strong>4 lakh sq km<\/strong>, about <strong>17%<\/strong> of India\u2019s total EEZ, along with a <strong>lagoon area of 4,200 sq km.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Development plans for Lakshadweep aim at harnessing opportunities in tuna fisheries, aquaculture, and sustainable lagoon-based fishing systems, making the islands a key hub for marine resource development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the challenges?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>There is overexploitation of nearshore fisheries<\/strong> while offshore and deep-sea potential remains underutilised.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Traditional and small-scale fishers face limitations<\/strong> in accessing technology, capital, and training needed for High Seas fishing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Infrastructure gaps<\/strong> such as inadequate cold chains, harbours, and modern processing facilities reduce efficiency and export potential.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Environmental concerns,<\/strong> including bycatch, coral reef degradation, and unsustainable fishing gear, pose ecological risks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monitoring and enforcement against IUU fishing<\/strong> require stronger surveillance mechanisms and institutional capacity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government initiatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA):<\/strong> It facilitates technology upgradation, market development, and quality certification.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Marine Fisheries Action Plan (NMFAP):<\/strong> The plan includes measures to improve fishery resources assessment, enhance infrastructure and technology in the fisheries sector, and promote aquaculture development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/13-09-2024\/4-years-of-pradhan-mantri-matsya-sampada-yojana-pmmsy\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/13-09-2024\/4-years-of-pradhan-mantri-matsya-sampada-yojana-pmmsy\">Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)<\/a>: <\/strong>It was implemented<strong> <\/strong>to bring the Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India from <strong>FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF):<\/strong> It was implemented to create a fund to address the infrastructure requirement for the fisheries sector.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/11-03-2025\/kisan-credit-card-bad-loans-rise\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/11-03-2025\/kisan-credit-card-bad-loans-rise\">Kisan Credit Card (KCC) <\/a><\/strong>scheme was extended in the <strong>2018-19 <\/strong>to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to help them meet their working capital requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strengthening Infrastructure:<\/strong> Invest in modern harbours, cold-chain logistics, and processing facilities to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance export competitiveness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promoting Value Addition and Exports:<\/strong> Focus on high-value species such as tuna by creating robust value chains, on-board processing, and global market linkages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Capacity-Building for Fishers:<\/strong> Expand training and skill development programmes for traditional and small-scale fishers to enable their participation in deep-sea and High Seas fishing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/india-marine-fisheries-rules-guidelines-10218978\/lite\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying recently released draft rules and guidelines to enable \u201csustainable\u201d fishing in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Potential of India\u2019s Fisheries Sector<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">India has a coastline of approximately 11,098.81 km, with 1,457 landing centres and 3,461 fishing villages, providing a strong base for fisheries development.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">India is the third largest fish-producing country in the world accounting for 8% of global production in 2022-2023.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The country\u2019s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spans nearly 2 million sq km, with an estimated annual potential of 5.31 million metric tonnes (MMT) of capture fisheries.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">India\u2019s marine fish catch was recorded at 44.95 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 and 44.32 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/30-08-2025\/indias-attempt-to-harness-its-marine-fisheries-potential\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52690"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53063,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52690\/revisions\/53063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}