India Unlocks Vast EEZ for Responsible Seafood Harvest
EEZ Access Pass Rolls Out to Empower Marine Fishers
New Access Pass Strengthens Fishers’ Safety and Exports
Veraval: India formally launched its Access Pass for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on February 20, 2026, at KCC Ground, Veraval, Gujarat, in a national event covering all 13 coastal states and union territories. The initiative was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who handed over passes to 37 fishermen representing 24 fisheries cooperative societies from across India. The Access Pass, issued free of cost and digitally delivered to registered mobile numbers or emails in a time-bound and transparent manner, is aimed at promoting sustainable harvesting of high-value oceanic species, facilitating the transition from near-shore to deep-sea fishing, empowering fisher cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), enhancing incomes, and supporting seafood exports.
India’s coastline stretches approximately 11,099 kilometres, and its EEZ spans about 2.4 million square kilometres. Currently, most Indian fishing activity is restricted to 40–50 nautical miles from the coast, leaving the EEZ largely underutilised despite scientific assessments showing significant potential for high-value oceanic resources such as tuna and tuna-like species. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep together account for 49 per cent of India’s EEZ, with an estimated marine fisheries potential of 248,000 tonnes.
The initiative builds on the Union Budget 2025–26, which outlined an enabling framework for sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources in the EEZ and high seas, and the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025, notified on 4 November 2025 under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976. The rules aim to ensure responsible utilisation of marine fisheries, conservation of marine ecosystems, compliance with international obligations, and improvement of fishers’ livelihoods.
Under the EEZ rules, mechanised vessels and large motorised vessels above 24 metres—approximately 64,000 in total—are required to obtain an Access Pass, while traditional non-motorised fishing crafts are exempt, safeguarding small-scale and artisanal fishers. The pass is obtained through the online Registration and Licensing of Fishing Craft (ReALCRaft) portal, developed by the National Informatics Centre and the Department of Fisheries. ReALCRaft allows registration and licensing of vessels, transfer of ownership, and related processes. It is integrated with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) for Fish Catch Certificates and the Export Inspection Council (EIC) for Health Certificates, creating a single-window system for global seafood exports that ensures traceability, eco-labelling, sanitary compliance, and access to premium international markets.
At the Veraval launch, 37 beneficiaries included representatives from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, West Bengal, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Daman & Diu, Puducherry, and Gujarat. Some of the fishers present were Chandra Sekhar Mohanty and Om Prakash Swain (Odisha), Bommidi Ramakrishna and Mylapalli Lakshman Rao (Andhra Pradesh), Agnel Savarok Mankar and Spruha Pushkar Bhute (Maharashtra), Sadananda Sheena Maben and Devaraj Karkera (Karnataka), and Mukesh Premji Panjari (Gujarat), among others.
To support the shift to deep-sea fishing, the Department of Fisheries will roll out training and capacity-building programmes through the Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET), the Fishery Survey of India (FSI), and in partnership with coastal states and union territories. These programmes will equip fishers with deep-sea fishing skills, safety awareness, and export-grade handling practices. A Joint Working Group with the Ministry of Cooperation has been formed to promote participation of small-scale fishers and strengthen fisheries cooperatives in deep-sea fishing, post-harvest management, processing, and export value chains.
The government has implemented several welfare and safety measures alongside the Access Pass. Around one lakh transponders are to be installed on fishing vessels free of cost to enable real-time tracking, two-way communication, distress alerts, and weather warnings, even beyond mobile network coverage. More than 50,000 transponders have already been installed and integrated with the Indian Coast Guard system. Nearly six lakh fisher families receive livelihood support during fishing bans and lean seasons, and accident insurance coverage has been increased to five lakh rupees, benefiting over 3.3 million fishers nationwide.
Officials said the Access Pass Officials said the Access Pass represents a transformative step for India’s marine fisheries secto. It represents a major step toward safer, more transparent, and better-regulated marine fishing operations, ensuring responsible utilisation of high-value oceanic resources, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and improving the global competitiveness of Indian seafood. By combining digital licensing, eco-labelling, cooperative strengthening, capacity building, and advanced safety measures, the initiative aims to sustainably harness India’s EEZ, increase fisher incomes, and enhance the country’s global seafood export competitiveness.
– global bihari bureau
