Centre Notifies ‘Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)’ Rules | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    Centre Notifies ‘Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)’ Rules

    Posted 10 Nov 2025

    2 min read

    Article Summary

    Article Summary

    The new EEZ rules focus on sustainable fishing, promoting community-led fisheries, mariculture, capacity building, and curbing harmful practices to unlock India's oceanic potential and ensure inclusive growth.

    It is aimed at realizing the vision of a prosperous and inclusive Blue Economy and unlocking the untapped potential of India’s 11,099 km coastline and more than 23 lakh sq. km EEZ, esp. Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands (49% of EEZ).

    Key Highlights of the Rules

    • Cooperatives and Community-Led Models: Exclusive priority to Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) for deep-sea fishing.
      • Introduction of Mother-and-Child Vessel Concept (Large mother vessels + smaller child boats), allowing mid-sea transshipment.
    • Comprehensive Support and Capacity Building: Through training programs, and capacity-building initiatives across the value chain.
      • Access to easy and affordable credit under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
    • Promoting Sustainable Fishing and Mariculture: 
      • Curbing harmful practices such as LED light fishingpair trawling and bull trawling.
      •  Fisheries Management Plans in consultation with state governments to restore declining fish stocks.
      • Mariculture practices such as sea-cage farming and seaweed cultivation will be promoted as alternate livelihoods. 
    • Other: Access pass for mechanized and large-sized motorized vessels through the onlineReALCRaft portal (Small fishers exempted; Foreign vessels not allowed in EEZ)
      • Fish resources originated from the Indian EEZ to be recognized as ‘Indian origin’, etc.

    About Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ):

    • Adopted through the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
    • It is an area of the ocean extending up to 200 nautical miles immediately offshore from a country’s land coast.
    • A country retains exclusive rights to the exploration and exploitation of natural resources in its EEZ. 
    • Tags :
    • Blue Economy
    • Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
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