Vice President launches national framework for sustainable high-seas fishing, unveils Odisha Deep Sea Mission

Bhubaneswar: India on Thursday launched a national framework to facilitate sustainable fishing in the high seas with the introduction of the Letter of Authorisation (LoA) system, a move aimed at enabling Indian-flagged fishing vessels to undertake regulated deep-sea fishing while promoting transparency and responsible utilisation of marine resources.

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched the Letter of Authorisation framework during a national programme organised by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, in Bhubaneswar. He also unveiled the Odisha Deep Sea Mission Document, which outlines the state’s roadmap for strengthening deep-sea fishing and marine fisheries.

The event was attended by Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of State S. P. Singh Baghel, Odisha Fisheries Minister Gokulananda Mallik, Kandhamal MP Sukanta Panigrahi, senior officials and around 1,000 fishers and fish farmers from across the country.

Launching the initiative, the Vice President said the LoA framework marks a new chapter in India’s fisheries sector by providing a transparent, technology-driven mechanism for regulated access to high-value fisheries resources in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and high seas. He said the initiative would strengthen livelihoods, create new opportunities across the seafood value chain and help Indian seafood gain greater access to premium international markets through improved quality standards and traceability.

Radhakrishnan also stressed the need to strengthen fisheries cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), while encouraging young people to view fisheries as a modern, science-driven sector offering significant employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. He said sustainable utilisation of marine resources must remain central to the country’s Blue Economy strategy.

During the programme, the Vice President distributed Letters of Authorisation to selected fisheries cooperative societies, including the Paradeep Marine Primary Fish Production and Marketing Cooperative Society, and Indian-flagged fishing vessel owners, enabling them to undertake regulated high-seas fishing operations.

Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati said the initiative would help India tap the immense fisheries potential of its vast marine resources while ensuring sustainability. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said Odisha is expanding fisheries infrastructure through investments in wholesale fish markets, Aqua Parks and other facilities, adding that the digitally enabled LoA system would improve transparency and ease of doing business.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Odisha’s rich maritime heritage and abundant marine resources provide immense opportunities for expanding deep-sea fisheries, while Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh described the LoA as a historic reform that operationalises the Union Budget announcement on sustainable high-seas fishing.

Singh said the Centre has invested more than ₹39,000 crore in the fisheries sector through various flagship programmes, resulting in record seafood exports and substantial growth in fish production. He also highlighted recent policy measures, including duty-free fish catch by Indian vessels operating in the EEZ and high seas, to further boost the sector.

Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi said the newly notified EEZ Rules, 2025, and High Seas Fisheries Guidelines, 2025, provide a comprehensive framework for responsible harvesting of high-value marine species while ensuring conservation of marine resources.

The Centre said the LoA framework and the Odisha Deep Sea Mission are expected to promote sustainable deep-sea fishing, strengthen seafood exports, generate employment for fishing communities and accelerate the growth of India’s Blue Economy.