Overview The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, has taken a significant step to strengthen small-scale fisheries, fisheries cooperatives, and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) by notifying the Rules for “Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)” on November 4, 2025 . This initiative aims to realize the vision of a prosperous and inclusive Blue Economy, inspired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s commitment to unlocking the potential of India’s marine sector. The notification fulfills the Budget 2025–26 announcement that envisaged an enabling framework for sustainable fisheries from the Indian EEZ and High Seas, with a special focus on the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. Key Developments Empowering Cooperatives and Community-Led Models The Rules prioritize Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) for undertaking deep-sea fishing operations and managing technologically advanced vessels. The EEZ Rules will facilitate deep-sea fishing and contribute to enhancing seafood exports by emphasizing value addition, traceability, and certification. This initiative is expected to open new horizons for the Indian marine fisheries sector through the creation of modern infrastructure and the introduction of the mother-and-child vessel concept, allowing mid-sea transshipment under an effective monitoring mechanism of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations. In island regions of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, which together account for 49% of India’s EEZ area, the use of mother and child vessels will boost the export of high-quality fish. Comprehensive Support and Capacity Building The Government will provide comprehensive support to fishers and their cooperatives/FFPOs through training programs, international exposure visits, and capacity-building initiatives across the value chain, including processing, value addition, marketing, branding, and exports. Access to easy and affordable credit will be facilitated under flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) . Curbing Harmful Practices, Promoting Sustainable Fishing and Mariculture The EEZ Rules take a firm stand against harmful fishing practices such as LED light fishing, pair trawling, and bull trawling to protect the marine ecosystem and ensure equitable fishing opportunities. To conserve biodiversity, a minimum legal size for fish species will be prescribed, and Fisheries Management Plans will be developed in consultation with stakeholders, including state governments, to restore declining fish stocks. Mariculture practices such as sea-cage farming and seaweed cultivation will also be promoted as alternate livelihoods to reduce fishing pressure in nearshore areas while increasing production without compromising environmental integrity. These measures will particularly benefit small-scale fishers and their cooperatives, enabling them to access deep-sea resources, earn higher incomes, and export high-value species like tuna to global markets. Digital and Transparent Access Pass Mechanism for EEZ Operations Under the EEZ Rules, an Access Pass is required for mechanized and large-sized motorized vessels, which can be obtained free of cost through the online ReALCRaft portal. Traditional and small-scale fishers operating motorized or non-motorized fishing crafts are exempted from obtaining an Access Pass. The system is designed to be fully digital and time-bound, allowing boat owners to apply with minimal documentation, track applications in real-time, and complete the process conveniently without visiting any office. This makes the entire process fast, transparent, and time-saving. Foreign fishing vessels are not allowed to get the access pass to operate in India’s EEZ, under any arrangements, to safeguard the interests of small-scale fishers. ReALCRaft is also being integrated with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Export Inspection Council (EIC) for the issuance of Fish Catch and Health Certificates, which are key requirements for exporting seafood to premium international markets. This integrated digital system ensures end-to-end traceability, sanitary compliance, and eco-labelling, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of Indian marine products. Regulatory Reforms, Sea Safety and Coastal Security The Rules bring significant reforms, recognizing fish resources originating from the Indian EEZ beyond the contiguous zone as ‘Indian origin’ under revenue and customs norms. This ensures that it is not treated as ‘import’ while landing at the Indian port and can be duly accounted for under the Indian exchequer while exporting to other countries. Additionally, to protect the interests of small-scale fishers, the rules provide for framing a National Plan of Action on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing to deter illegal fishing practices in the Indian EEZ. By providing mandatory use of transponders, the safety and security of fishermen and fishing vessels are ensured in the deep-sea. The fishermen and fishing vessels identification is ensured through mandatory use of QR Coded Aadhaar Card / Fishers ID Card. The ReALCraft application has been integrated with the Nabhmitra Application, which is being used by the fishermen for safe navigation and operation of transponders. This will help the marine enforcement agencies, including the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy, to strengthen coastal security as well. UPSC Relevance This initiative is relevant to the UPSC syllabus under GS3: Economy (fisheries sector, export promotion), GS3: Environment (sustainable fishing practices, marine biodiversity conservation), GS2: Government Policies (policies related to fisheries and coastal communities), and GS3: Infrastructure (development of fisheries infrastructure). The focus on sustainable practices, technology integration, and community empowerment aligns with the broader goals of inclusive and sustainable development. Important Facts Government of India notified Rules for “Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)” on 04.11.2025 . The initiative fulfills the Budget 2025–26 announcement for sustainable fisheries from the Indian EEZ and High Seas. The Rules prioritize Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) for deep-sea fishing operations. Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep account for 49% of India’s EEZ area. The EEZ Rules aim to curb harmful fishing practices such as LED light fishing, pair trawling, and bull trawling. An Access Pass is required for mechanized and large-sized motorized vessels, obtainable through the online ReALCRaft portal. Foreign fishing vessels are not allowed access to India’s EEZ. ReALCRaft is being integrated with MPEDA and EIC for issuance of Fish Catch and Health Certificates.