India’s Blue Economy – Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Economy & Ecology
Source: PIB
Context: NITI Aayog released a report “India’s Blue Economy – Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries” outlining a scientific, sustainable, and inclusive roadmap for developing India’s deep-sea and offshore fisheries.
About India’s Blue Economy – Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries:
Current Status and Overview:
• Underdeveloped Sector: India’s deep-sea fishing remains nascent, despite an estimated 7.16 million tonnes (MT) potential within its EEZ.
• Limited High-Seas Presence: Only 4 Indian-flagged vessels operate in high seas versus Sri Lanka’s 1,883 and Iran’s 1,216, reflecting weak international engagement.
• Regulatory Void: No specific law governs fishing between 12–200 nautical miles, leading to IUU fishing and legal ambiguity.
• Jurisdictional Limitation: States regulate only up to 12 nmi, restricting oversight of larger marine zones.
Opportunities and Potential:
• Economic Growth: Deep-sea expansion could enhance exports beyond the ₹60,523 crore earned in FY 2023–24.
• Livelihood Creation: A modern vessel can yield ₹32 lakh annual profit, 10× more than small motorised boats.
• Coastal Relief: Shifting effort offshore will reduce pressure on inshore fish stocks and aid sustainability.
• Non-Conventional Resources: Untapped 1.847 MT in lanternfish, squids, and deep-sea shrimp holds new value.
• Strategic Edge: A strong offshore fleet strengthens India’s food security and maritime presence in the Indian Ocean.
Major Challenges:
• Policy Gaps: India lacks a unified EEZ Fisheries Act and effective coordination among maritime, environmental, and defence agencies, causing fragmented regulation.
• Infrastructure Deficit: Only a few of the 90 fishing harbours can berth large vessels; absence of cold storage and processing units’ limits export competitiveness.
• High Costs: Deep-sea fishing demands high fuel, capital, and maintenance costs, making it unaffordable for small and traditional fishers.
• Data Deficiency: There’s no central database for fish stock, species mapping, or catch trends, leading to poor planning and risk of overfishing.
• Environmental Risks: Bottom trawling, bycatch, and marine pollution degrade habitats and endanger species in fragile deep-sea ecosystems.
Global Best Practices:
• China: Operates large distant-water fleets and “motherships,” showing scale potential but also risks of resource depletion from overfishing.
• Spain: Employs Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), eco-friendly gear, and traceability tools for responsible fishing practices.
• New Zealand: Implements Quota Management System (QMS) assigning catch rights to maintain balance between economy and ecology.
NITI Aayog’s Key Recommendations:
• Policy Overhaul: Draft a national EEZ Fisheries Act harmonized with UNCLOS and revise subsidies to reward sustainable practices.
• Institutional Strengthening: Establish a Deep-Sea Fisheries Authority and invest in research, data systems, and scientific manpower.
• Fleet Modernisation: Provide incentives for modern, GPS and cold-storage-equipped vessels, promoting cooperative ownership models.
• Sustainable Management: Adopt ecosystem-based catch limits, enforce marine spatial planning, and enable real-time vessel tracking.
• Financing Mechanism: Set up a Deep-Sea Fishing Development Fund supported by PPPs, soft loans, and insurance for risk mitigation.
• Stakeholder Inclusion: Empower fishing communities in governance, ensure capacity-building, and include small-scale fishers in policy benefits.
Conclusion:
The report charts a blue revolution 2.0—integrating economic growth with ecological balance. A robust, regulated deep-sea sector can boost exports, secure livelihoods, and strengthen India’s maritime footprint, aligning with the vision of a sustainable Blue Economy.