Centre Plans New Push to Unlock High-Value Fisheries Resources

The Centre is set to step up efforts to promote deep-sea fishing and encourage fishers to tap high-value fisheries resources, with a national workshop scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The workshop on Thursday will focus on promoting deep-sea fishing and facilitating interaction with access pass and Letter of Authorisation (LoA) holders. It will bring together policymakers, technical experts, financial institutions, industry representatives, cooperatives and fishers to discuss ways to strengthen India's deep-sea fishing ecosystem.

The event will provide fishers with an opportunity to highlight challenges faced on the ground and offer suggestions for improving the sector. The discussions are expected to identify practical solutions and improve access to technology, skills, finance and markets, while encouraging greater participation in deep-sea fishing.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other stakeholders are expected to attend the workshop.

India's marine fisheries potential within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is estimated at 58.6 lakh metric tonnes (MT) and supports the livelihoods of around 50 lakh fishers. The sector contributes to food security, nutrition, employment, income generation and export earnings.

India is among the world's leading fisheries and aquaculture producers and exported seafood worth around Rs 73,890 crore in FY 2025-26.

At present, most fishing activity is concentrated within 40–50 nautical miles of India's coastline. However, deeper waters and areas beyond national jurisdiction offer opportunities to harvest high-value species, particularly tuna and tuna-like resources.

The Department of Fisheries is also focusing on strengthening Fisheries Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) and fisheries cooperatives, alongside efforts to promote digitisation across the sector.

Technical sessions at the workshop will cover the entire deep-sea fishing value chain, including assessment of resource potential, vessel modernisation, skill development, financing, processing, value addition and access to international export markets.