Marine reform: Centre notifies new deep-sea fishing rules; bans foreign vessels, empowers cooperatives – what changes for Indian fishers?
In a major policy shift aimed at unlocking India’s vast marine wealth, the Centre has notified new rules for deep-sea fishing in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — prioritising fishermen cooperatives, small-scale fishers, and digital transparency, while banning foreign vessels from Indian waters.The rules, notified on November 4, fulfil the government’s Budget 2025-26 promise and are designed to expand opportunities in India’s marine fisheries sector, especially in high-value tuna fishing — a resource long underutilised by Indian fleets despite heavy exploitation by other nations in the Indian Ocean, PTI reported. According to the Ministry of Fisheries, the new framework gives first preference to Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) for deep-sea operations using technologically advanced vessels.A major innovation is the introduction of the “mother-and-child vessel” model, which allows mid-sea transhipment under RBI guidelines — particularly benefiting the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, which together make up nearly 49% of India’s EEZ.The new rules prohibit harmful practices such as LED light fishing, pair trawling, and bull trawling to protect the marine ecosystem. Fisheries Management Plans will now be developed in consultation with stakeholders, while minimum legal sizes for fish species will also be notified.Mechanised and large motorised vessels will require a free Access Pass through the ReALCRaft portal, while traditional and small-scale fishers using motorised or non-motorised crafts are exempt. The digital process allows owners to apply and track approvals in real time without visiting government offices.So far, 2.38 lakh fishing vessels have been registered on the portal across 13 coastal states and Union Territories. Around 64,187 mechanised vessels will now need Access Passes for EEZ operations, while foreign vessels are completely barred, ensuring that small-scale Indian fishers remain protected.The ReALCRaft system is being integrated with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Export Inspection Council (EIC) to issue Fish Catch and Health Certificates, ensuring traceability and sanitary compliance for seafood exports to premium global markets.The new rules also align revenue norms by recognising fish caught from India’s EEZ as ‘Indian origin’, ensuring they are not treated as imports when landed at domestic ports.The government will extend full support through training programmes, international exposure visits, and capacity-building initiatives across the marine value chain — including processing, marketing, and exports. Credit access will be facilitated under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).To enhance safety, the rules make transponders and QR-coded Aadhaar/Fishers ID cards mandatory for identification and tracking. The ReALCRaft system will also link to the Nabhmitra app, used for real-time navigation and coastal security by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy.India’s 11,099 km coastline and 23-lakh sq km EEZ support over 50 lakh livelihoods in the fishing community. The country ranks second globally in fish production and aquaculture, with exports valued at Rs 60,000 crore, but its deep-sea potential — especially in tuna-rich waters — remains largely untapped.The new policy, combining community participation, digital governance, and sustainable practices, aims to strengthen India’s footprint in the global seafood trade while ensuring long-term ecological balance.
