How India is attempting to harness its marine fisheries potential

But a lack of an enabling legal and regulatory framework has meant that this potential has remained untapped. India’s marine fish catch was recorded at 44.95 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 and 44.32 lakh tonnes in 2022-23, ten times less than the estimated potential, Department of Fisheries data show.

Moreover, marine fish production has been uneven in the last two decades with several years seeing a contraction. There is thus significant potential to increase the harvest of marine fish, particularly high-quality tuna and tuna-like species.

“To unlock the untapped potential of the marine sector, our Government will bring in an enabling framework for sustainable harnessing of fisheries from Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and High Seas, with a special focus on the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said in her Budget speech on February 1.

Regulatory & enabling framework

As per the guidelines, “No Indian-flagged fishing vessel shall engage in fishing or fishing-related activities in the High Seas without a valid LOA (Letter of Authorisation) issued by the Issuing Authority under these guidelines.”

The validity of the LOA shall be for a period of three years from the date of issuance. The guidelines prohibit illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“Indian-flagged fishing vessels shall comply with applicable conservation and management measures of the concerned RFMO (Regional Fisheries Management Organisation), including catch limits, gear restrictions, bycatch mitigation, Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) management, voyage reporting, etc., to ensure sustainable fishing,” the guidelines state.

The guidelines also envisage programs “to provide training and capacity-building of traditional and small-scale fishers to enhance skills for High Seas fishing and value-chain efficiencies.”

The idea is to maximise India’s marine fisheries potential while also bringing in sustainable practices.

Focus on Andaman, Lakshadweep

The development of fisheries in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands will seek to harness its 6.60 lakh sq km EEZ — roughly a third of the total expanse of the Indian EEZ — with a potential of 1.48 lakh tonnes of fishing annually.

Specifically, a tuna-potential of 60,000 tons has been identified and the development of a “tuna cluster” has been notified by the Centre. In a statement, the ministry said that this will comprise activities such as the establishment of on-board processing and freezing facilities in tuna fishing vessels, licensing for deep-sea tuna fishing vessels, and provision of single window clearances by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.

Additionally, opportunities in sea cage culture, seaweed, ornamental, and pearl cultivation have been harnessed as part of these initiatives.

In the Lakshadweep Islands, the government aims at harnessing its 4 lakh sq km EEZ — roughly 17% of the Indian EEZ — and lagoon area of 4,200 sq km with a fisheries potential of 1 lakh tonnes, including potential of 4,200 tonnes for tuna fisheries.