The Government of India is stepping up efforts to promote deep-sea fishing through new regulations, financial incentives, and large-scale training programmes aimed at boosting fishermen’s income and increasing marine fish production.
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy said the recently notified Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules, 2025, are intended to regulate fishing activities in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone while ensuring sustainable utilization of marine resources.
Under the new rules, access passes are being issued to mechanized fishing vessels and motorized boats measuring 24 metres or more, as well as vessels engaged in tuna fishing. As of March 5, 2026, a total of 707 access passes have been granted through the ReALCraft online portal to vessels from coastal states and Union Territories. Gujarat recorded the highest number of approvals with 274 vessels, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 162 vessels.
According to government estimates, India’s EEZ has a fishery potential of nearly 53.1 lakh tonnes, including about 3.65 lakh tonnes along the Andhra Pradesh coast. Marine fish production in Andhra Pradesh during the last five years has ranged between 5.54 lakh tonnes and 6.51 lakh tonnes, including output from mariculture and deep-sea fishing activities.
To improve fishermen’s skills and safety, the government is conducting capacity-building programmes under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. The National Fisheries Development Board, in collaboration with the Central Institute of Fisheries, Nautical and Engineering Training, has trained more than 8,000 fishermen in deep-sea fishing methods, onboard fish handling, and modern equipment usage.
In addition, the Fishery Survey of India has organised specialised training sessions on navigation, longline fishing techniques, safety at sea, and the use of advanced tools such as GPS, echo sounders, and electronic fish-finding systems.
The government is also providing financial assistance for the purchase of deep-sea fishing vessels and the conversion of existing trawlers. In Andhra Pradesh, 50 deep-sea fishing vessels have been approved under PMMSY at a total project cost of ₹6,000 lakh, with central financial support of ₹1,526.4 lakh.
Officials said the initiatives are expected to help shift fishing activity from near-shore waters to deeper seas, reduce pressure on coastal resources, and create better income opportunities for fishermen.