Blue Economy

India’s Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries

Current Status and Potential

• Second Largest Fish Producer: India ranks as the world’s second-largest fish producer, accounting for 8% of global fish production​

• Massive Economic Impact: The fisheries sector supports approximately 30 million livelihoods and contributes significantly to national economy​

• Export Performance: Fish and fishery products earned ₹60,523 crore in FY 2023-24, representing a 100% increase from ₹30,213 crore in 2013-14​

• Marine Production Growth: Marine fish production increased from 34.76 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 to 44.95 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, marking an 8.9% annual average growth rate​

• Vast Maritime Resources: India possesses over 2 million sq km EEZ, 11,098 km coastline across nine coastal states and four Union Territories​

Deep-Sea Fisheries Potential and Current Gaps

Untapped Potential

• EEZ Resource Capacity: India’s Exclusive Economic Zone has an estimated potential yield of 7.16 million tonnes, including both conventional (74%) and non-conventional resources (26%)​

• Deep-Sea Species: High-value fish stocks include tuna, billfish, and shrimp species in waters beyond the continental shelf extending past 200 nautical miles​

• Current Underutilization: Despite massive potential, deep-sea fishery resources beyond the continental shelf remain largely unexploited​

Critical Infrastructure Deficit

• Vessel Fleet Comparison: India operates only 4 vessels registered with Indian Ocean Tuna Commission for high-sea fishing, compared to Sri Lanka’s 1,883 vessels and Iran’s 1,216 vessels​

• Limited Deep-Sea Capability: Current fishing operations primarily use boats with motors that can reach maximum 30-40 miles from coastline, not beyond​

• Export Composition Imbalance: While India exports around $8 billion worth of marine products, 80% are aquaculture-based and only 20% are open sea fish​

NITI Aayog’s Three-Phase Strategic Implementation

Phase 1: Foundation Building (2025-2028)

Investment: ₹2,430 crore​

Key Focus Areas:

• Regulatory Framework Development: Establishing rules and regulations for fisheries governance within 12-200 nautical miles region​

• Infrastructure Development: Setting up 10-15 minor deep-sea landing centres in coastal states/UTs​

• Resource Mapping: Comprehensive mapping of deep-sea and offshore fisheries resources potential​

• Capacity Building: Focus on research and development, institutional strengthening​

• Export Promotion: Addressing critical infrastructure gaps for enhanced seafood exports​

Phase 2: Scaling and Competitiveness (2029-2032)

Investment: ₹4,210 crore​

Strategic Interventions:

• Fleet Modernization: Large-scale induction of advanced deep-sea and offshore fishing vessels through cooperative ownership models​

• Technology Integration: Implementing technology and automation throughout the value chain for enhanced efficiency and transparency​

• Market Expansion: Strengthening market access and expanding export capabilities​

• Enhanced Surveillance: Strengthening monitoring and surveillance mechanisms​

Phase 3: Global Leadership (2033 onwards)

Investment: ₹1,690 crore​

Long-term Objectives:

• High-Value Product Development: Focus on premium deep-sea species and value-added processing​

• International Standards Alignment: Ensuring compliance with global fisheries management practices​

• Trade Facilitation: Advanced market access and trade facilitation mechanisms​

• Global Leadership Position: Positioning India as leader in sustainable deep-sea fisheries​

Six Key Policy Interventions

1. Policy and Regulatory Reforms

• Separate Vessels Act: Creating legislation for modern fishing vessels capable of operating beyond 12 nautical miles​

• International Compliance: Aligning frameworks with UNCLOS standards and international guidelines​

• Streamlined Licensing: Developing efficient registration and access policies based on resource potential​

• IUU Fishing Prevention: Strengthening measures against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing​

2. Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building

• Dedicated Deep-Sea Agency: Creating specialized directorate under Department of Fisheries for comprehensive governance​

• Research Enhancement: Strengthening data collection and stock assessment capabilities​

• Advisory Mechanism: Establishing Deep-Sea Fishing Programme with council comprising maritime states​

• Programme Management Unit: Creating dedicated unit for design, coordination, and monitoring​

3. Fleet Modernization and Infrastructure Upgrades

• Cooperative Models: Supporting fisher cooperatives and cluster-based approaches for collective ownership of modern vessels​

• Safety Systems: Implementing advanced navigation, communication, and safety equipment​

• Harbor Development: Modernizing fishing harbors and establishing deep-sea landing facilities​

• Cold Chain Infrastructure: Developing integrated post-harvest and processing facilities​

4. Sustainable Fisheries Management

• Science-Based Approach: Adopting ecosystem-based fisheries management practices​

• Stock Assessment: Regular monitoring of fish stocks to ensure 91.1% sustainability rate as currently maintained​

• Turtle Conservation: Mandatory use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in bottom trawling operations​

• Seasonal Regulations: Implementing appropriate fishing seasons and zone restrictions​

5. Resource Mobilization and Financing

• Deep-Sea Development Fund: Establishing specialized financing mechanism supported by government and industry contributions​

• Convergence Schemes: Integrating centrally sponsored and central sector schemes related to fisheries​

• Credit Enhancement: Increasing Kisan Credit Card lending limit from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh for fisheries stakeholders​

• FIDF Utilization: Leveraging Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund with corpus of ₹75.22 billion​

6. Technology Integration and Monitoring

Vessel Tracking and Safety Systems

• Indigenous Transponder Technology: Installing 100,000 ISRO-developed transponders on fishing vessels at ₹364 crore investment​

• Two-Way Communication: Enabling satellite-based communication up to 200 nautical miles from coast​

• NavIC Integration: Using Navigation with Indian Constellation for real-time positioning and boundary alerts​

• Weather Alert System: Providing cyclone warnings and emergency response capabilities​

Digital Platform Development

• National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP): Single-window system launched in September 2024 with 2.7 million registrations​

• Real Craft Application: Web-enabled system for vessel registration under Merchant Shipping Act and licensing under Marine Fishing Regulation Acts​

• Potential Fishing Zone Advisory: Daily advisories to 586 fish landing centers using satellite data from INCOIS​

Current Schemes and Investment Framework

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

• Total Investment: ₹20,050 crore for 2020-26 period​

• Approved Projects: ₹21,274.16 crore worth projects approved with central share of ₹9,189.79 crore​

• Released Funds: ₹5,587.57 crore released to states and implementing agencies​

• Production Target Achievement: 184.02 lakh tonnes fish production in 2023-24 compared to 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013-14​

PM-MKSSY Sub-Scheme

• Additional Investment: ₹6,000 crore over 4 years (FY 2023-24 to 2026-27)​

• Focus Areas: Fisheries sector formalization, micro and small enterprises support​

• Current Allocation: ₹11.84 crore sanctioned for early implementation​

Infrastructure Development and Fleet Statistics

Current Fleet Composition

• Mechanized Vessels: 66,106 mechanized fishing boats currently operational​

• Motorized Vessels: 135,763 motorized fishing boats across coastal states/UTs​

• Total Registered Vessels: 228,758 fishing crafts including traditional craft (66%), motorized traditional crafts (17%), and mechanized boats​

• Deep-Sea Trawlers: Out of 31,045 registered mechanized vessels, only 259 operate drag nets or bottom trawl nets​

Technology Modernization Initiatives

• Bio-toilets Installation: 2,259 bio-toilets fitted in mechanized fishing vessels​

• Open Sea Cages: 1,525 sea cages approved for fish culture​

• Advanced Aquaculture: 52,058 reservoir cages, 22,057 RAS & Biofloc units established​

Climate Resilience and Community Development

Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV)

• Village Coverage: 100 coastal fishermen villages identified across all coastal states/UTs​

• Investment Allocation: ₹200 crore with ₹2 crore per village under 100% central funding​

• Infrastructure Components: 70% allocation for infrastructure facilities, 30% for fisheries economic activities​

• Development Features: Multipurpose fisheries centres, cold storage, ice plants, fish markets, net mending yards, shore protection works​

State-wise Implementation Examples

• Karnataka: Five villages identified – Uppunda Madikal, Koteshwara, Kadekar, Bailuru, Mattadahitlu​

• Andhra Pradesh: 15 coastal villages approved with ₹30 crore investment and ₹7.50 crore first installment released​

• Infrastructure Focus: Fish drying yards, processing centers, fishing jetties, emergency rescue operations​

Marine Fishing Zone Regulations

Depth-Based Zoning System

• Zone A (Nearshore): Reserved for traditional and non-mechanized craft up to 5-8 km from shore varying by state​

• Zone B (Inshore): Mechanized vessels up to certain sizes permitted beyond nearshore limits​

• Zone C (Offshore): Larger mechanized vessels (25 GRT and above or 15m+ length) operate beyond 15-20 km​

• Zone D (Deep-Sea): Vessels above specific thresholds operate beyond 50 km from shore​

State-Specific Regulations

• Kerala: Complex two-zone system with 30m and 20m depth lines, prohibiting mechanized fishing in specified areas​

• Tamil Nadu: 5 km reservation for traditional boats, mechanized vessels beyond 5 km​

• West Bengal: 18 km reservation for artisanal craft, vessels >30 HP beyond 18 km​

• Odisha: 5 km exclusive zone for non-mechanized craft, larger vessels beyond 10 km​

Export Market Diversification and Value Addition

Market Expansion Strategy

• Target Markets: European Union, Japan, South Korea, UK, Russia, Australia, West Asia, Southeast Asia​

• Export Diversification: Government directive to reduce dependence on US market following August 2025 tariff impositions​

• Value Addition Focus: Emphasis on processed seafood rather than raw catch exports​

• State Initiatives: Tamil Nadu targeting $5 billion seafood exports leveraging 1,076 km coastline​

Quality and Traceability Systems

• International Standards: Compliance with global quality and safety requirements​

• Traceability Implementation: Establishing end-to-end traceability systems for export products​

• Processing Modernization: Upgrading processing facilities and packaging standards​

• MPEDA Initiatives: 45,500+ awareness and training programmes through NETFISH initiative​

Key Challenges and Risk Mitigation

Operational Challenges

• High Capital Requirements: Deep-sea fishing operations require significant investment in vessels and equipment​

• Technical Expertise Gap: Shortage of skilled personnel for modern deep-sea operations​

• Declining Coastal Stocks: Need to reduce fishing pressure on coastal resources​

• Climate Change Impact: Rising sea temperatures and changing fish distribution patterns​

Safety and Security Measures

• Sea Safety Protocols: Enhanced safety equipment and emergency response systems​

• Border Management: Prevention of inadvertent crossing into foreign waters​

• IUU Fishing Combat: Strengthening monitoring and surveillance to prevent illegal fishing​

• Emergency Response: Real-time communication and rescue coordination capabilities​

Research and Development Framework

Scientific Assessment

• Stock Evaluation: 135 marine fish stocks assessed with 91.1% found sustainable across regions​

• Climate Research: Studies under National Innovation in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) program​

• Basin Analysis: Climate trend analysis of major river basins and fish distribution shifts​

• Ocean Acidification Studies: Research on blue carbon and adaptive management strategies​

International Collaboration

• Indian Ocean Tuna Commission: Active participation in regional fisheries management​

• Research Partnerships: Collaboration with AZTI Tecnalia (Spain), IRD (France), CFR (Indonesia)​

• Stock Assessment Improvement: DNA analysis and otolith studies for population structure identification​

Economic Impact and Employment Generation

Employment Creation

• Direct Employment: 3.8 million coastal population supported by marine fisheries sector​

• Livelihood Support: 58 lakh livelihoods created under PMMSY implementation​

• Women Empowerment: 99,018 women covered under various PMMSY initiatives with ₹4,061.96 crore sanctioned proposals​

• GDP Contribution: Fisheries sector contributes 1.1% to national GDP and 5.4% to agricultural GDP​

Value Chain Development

• Processing Enhancement: Modern processing facilities and cold chain infrastructure​

• Market Integration: Improved connectivity between production centers and markets​

• Cooperative Strengthening: Support for fisher cooperatives and cluster-based approaches​

• Entrepreneurship Development: Focus on youth and women empowerment through skill development​

This comprehensive strategy positions India to harness its vast deep-sea and offshore fisheries potential through systematic implementation of regulatory reforms, infrastructure development, fleet modernization, and sustainable management practices, targeting global leadership in the blue economy sector.

Economy