Prime Highlights:
- India will launch an official “Access Pass” system for fishing in its Exclusive Economic Zone, starting in Veraval, Gujarat, to promote structured deep-sea fishing.
- The framework aims to boost seafood exports, diversify catches, and ensure sustainable and responsible use of marine resources.
Key Facts:
- India’s EEZ covers around 24 lakh sq km, and the system will enable regulated expansion into deeper waters for high-value species like tuna.
- Seafood exports reached ₹62,408 crore in FY 2024-25, with Gujarat’s Veraval positioned as a major hub for fisheries production, processing, and export infrastructure.
Background:
Fishing activities in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will now require an official “Access Pass” under a newly notified regulatory framework. The Centre will formally launch the system on February 20 at Veraval, Gujarat, marking a major shift towards structured and monitored deep-sea fishing.
The government said the Access Pass framework puts into action the sustainable fisheries provisions under the EEZ Rules, 2025. Authorities notified the rules on November 4, 2025, under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976. The framework creates a legal pathway for fishers, cooperatives, Self Help Groups, and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) to operate in India’s EEZ.
India’s EEZ stretches up to 200 nautical miles from the coastline and covers around 24 lakh square kilometres. However, most fishing vessels operate within 40 to 50 nautical miles from the shore. Officials said the new system will encourage regulated expansion into deeper waters, especially for high-value species such as tuna and other offshore fish stocks.
The framework introduces entry norms, monitoring systems, and compliance standards to ensure traceability and certification that meet global requirements. Policymakers expect the move to diversify catch, improve value realisation and strengthen India’s seafood export competitiveness.
India’s seafood exports stood at ₹62,408 crore in FY 2024-25. The country ranks as the world’s second-largest producer of fisheries and aquaculture. Officials believe better access to underused marine resources in deeper waters will further support export growth.
Veraval, one of India’s key fisheries processing and export hubs, will host the launch. The government has proposed setting up 34 fisheries production and processing clusters across the country, with Veraval positioned as a major centre for value addition and export-driven infrastructure.
Officials said the Access Pass system will balance economic growth with sustainability while ensuring responsible use of marine resources.
