Unlocking India’s Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries | 15 Oct 2025

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

NITI Aayog has released a comprehensive report titled “India’s Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries”, outlining a roadmap to sustainably unlock the vast potential of India’s marine resources, and strengthen the Blue Economy.  

What are the Key Highlights of NITI Aayog’s Report on India’s Blue Economy? 

• Unlocking India’s Untapped Marine Potential: India is the second-largest fish-producing nation, contributing 8% of global fish output. Fisheries support around 30 million livelihoods in the country. In FY 2023–24, fishery products exports earned Rs 60,523 crore. 
  • Despite this, deep-sea resources beyond the continental shelf remain largely unexploited. 
  • India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 2 million sq. km holds an estimated potential yield of 7.16 million tonnes.   
  • Harnessing these resources can reduce pressure on coastal fisheries, boost exports, and create employment. 
• Roadmap for Harnessing India’s Fisheries: The NITI Aayog report envisions a three-phase roadmap to unlock India’s deep-sea fisheries potential through policy reform, technology, infrastructure, and sustainable practices. 
  • Phase 1 (2025–28) (Foundation and early growth): It focuses on setting up strong policy frameworks, building capacity through training and modern infrastructure, and launching pilot projects to test deep-sea fishing models. 
  • Phase 2 (2029–32) (Scaling up and achieving global competitiveness): Aims to expand fleets, upgrade harbours and processing facilities, and strengthen India’s presence in global seafood markets through innovation and sustainability. 
  • Phase 3 (2033 onwards) (Global leadership in sustainable deep-sea fisheries): It envisions India emerging as a world leader in sustainable deep-sea fisheries by promoting high-value products, ecosystem-based management, and international collaborations. 

What are the Key Challenges in India’s Deep-sea and Offshore Fisheries Highlighted by NITI Aayog? 

• Lack of Scientific Stock Assessment: Inadequate data and limited use of modern tools like remote sensing, sonar, and AI for mapping deep-sea resources can lead to overfishing and unsustainable exploitation of marine resources. 
  • Overfishing, bycatch, and marine pollution threaten ecosystem health and can cause long-term decline of fish stocks and marine biodiversity. 
• Weak Infrastructure: Poor harbour facilities, insufficient landing centres, and limited cold chain and processing capacity cause post-harvest losses, reduced fish quality, and lower export potential. 
• Technological Gaps: Most vessels lack modern fish-finding equipment, vessel monitoring systems (VMS), and selective fishing gear leading to inefficient fishing, high bycatch, and compromised sustainability. 
• Limited Access to Finance: Fisher cooperatives and small operators face difficulties getting institutional credit or insurance coverage resulting in underinvestment in technology and risk mitigation. 
  • Current subsidies and schemes are fragmented and not designed for deep-sea operations leading to slow adoption of green technologies and fleet modernisation. 
• Outdated Legal Framework: Existing laws regulate only coastal waters up to 12 nautical miles, leaving deep-sea areas poorly governed which creates loopholes and weak enforcement of sustainable fishing. 
  • Limited vessel tracking, lack of observer programs, and poor coordination among enforcement agencies allow illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to persist. 
  • Cross-border fishing and weak surveillance in sensitive maritime zones pose risks to maritime security and the safety of fishers. 
• Fragmented policy alignment with SDGs: Lack of integration between fisheries policies and global sustainability goals such as SDG 14 (Life Below Water) hampers holistic development and conservation of marine resources. 

What are the Recommendations of NITI Aayog for India’s Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries? 

• Policy & Regulation: Establish a dedicated legal framework aligned with international standards (UNCLOS). Streamline licensing, registration, access policies, and incentives to ensure sustainable and inclusive fishing. 
  • Empower institutions for effective monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS&E). 
• Institutional Strengthening & Capacity Building: Create a dedicated agency or directorate under the Department of Fisheries for deep-sea governance. 
  • Enhance research, data collection, stock assessments, and advisory services with specialized vessels and infrastructure. 
  • Promote export-oriented cooperatives to leverage collective resources and market power. 
• Fleet Modernisation & Infrastructure: Support modern vessels with refrigeration, onboard processing, and eco-friendly technology. 
  • Upgrade deep-sea fishing harbours, landing centres, cold chains, and post-harvest infrastructure. Promote collective ownership models for small-scale fishers through cooperatives and clusters. 
• Sustainable Fisheries Management: Implement marine spatial planning, marine protected areas, and total allowable catch limits.  
  • Mandate bycatch reduction technologies and habitat protection measures. 
  • Deploy real-time monitoring, traceability systems, and eco-labeling for sustainable practices. 
• Financing & Resource Mobilisation: Establish a Deep-Sea Fishing Development Fund through Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and industry contributions. Encourage public-private partnerships in vessels and infrastructure development. 
  • Explore soft loans or viability gap funding for green technologies. 
• Implementation Mechanism: Launch a Deep-Sea Fishing Program (DSFP) with a dedicated Programme Management Unit. Establish an advisory council of maritime states and relevant agencies for guidance and monitoring. 

Conclusion 

In line with PMMSY and SDG 14, NITI Aayog’s recommendations aim to ensure sustainable growth, ecosystem conservation, and inclusive development in India’s deep-sea and offshore fisheries.