National Workshop on Deep-Sea Fishing Promotion
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India organized a National Workshop on Promotion of Deep-Sea Fishing and Interaction with Access Pass Holders on September 17, 2026, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The workshop aimed to promote deep-sea fishing by encouraging fishers to harness high-value fisheries resources while providing a platform to understand on-ground challenges and gather stakeholder suggestions for sector strengthening.
Key Production and Export Figures
India's fisheries sector has shown significant growth, with fish production reaching a record 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. Seafood exports have more than doubled, rising by ₹11,400 crore to achieve a record ₹73,890 crore despite global trade barriers and increased tariffs in key markets. This growth reflects the sector's increasing resilience and global competitiveness.
Policy Initiatives and Fee Reductions
The government has implemented several initiatives to support deep-sea fishing, including the issuance of Access Passes for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Letters of Authorization for High Seas Fishing. Notably, the fee for obtaining a Letter of Authorization for High Seas Fishing has been reduced from ₹25,000 to ₹5,000 specifically for cooperative societies, making it more accessible for fisher collectives to participate in deep-sea fishing activities.
Stakeholder Participation and Input
The workshop was attended by Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel (Chief Minister of Gujarat), Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying), Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel (Minister of State), and Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi (Secretary of Fisheries). Participants included fishers (including women fishers), officials from Department of Fisheries, Government of Gujarat, ICAR, INCOIS, CIFNET, ASCI, NABARD, NCEL, NCDC, SEAI, MPEDA, EIC, and other fisheries stakeholders.
During interactions, fishers appreciated the government's decision to issue access passes, which enabled them to venture beyond traditional nearshore fishing grounds into the EEZ to target high-value species such as tuna and other oceanic resources. Participants identified needs for enhanced training on quality handling and value addition, cold-chain infrastructure at fishing harbors, modernization of deep-sea fishing vessels, improved communication systems, and greater financial assistance for deep-sea fishing operations.
Technical Sessions and Focus Areas
The workshop featured five technical sessions covering the entire deep-sea fisheries value chain: (1) Unlocking India's Blue Economy: Deep-Sea Fishing Opportunities in the EEZ and High Seas for Enhanced Seafood Exports, (2) Transforming India's Deep-Sea Fishing Fleet: Modern Vessel Technologies and Global Best Practices, (3) Building a Future-Ready Deep-Sea Fishing Workforce: Specialized Training, Skills and Capacity Development, (4) Financing Mechanisms for Deep-Sea Fishing, and (5) From Deep-Sea Catch to Global Markets: Processing, Value Addition, Traceability and Export Compliance.
Nineteen speakers from government, research institutions, financial institutions, industry, international organizations, and fisher representatives emphasized India's significant untapped potential in deep-sea fisheries, particularly for high-value species like tuna and squid. Discussions highlighted the need for modern vessels, advanced fishing technologies, cold-chain infrastructure, scientific fish handling, traceability systems, and international certification to improve fishers' incomes and export capabilities.
Strategic Priorities and Future Direction
Key priorities identified include training and capacity building, improved access to finance through concessional financing under FIDF, and strengthening cooperative institutions and Fisheries Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs). The government is focusing on digitization of the fisheries sector and promoting the Blue Revolution and Blue Economy initiatives to enhance value realization from marine resources and advance the vision of a developed India by 2047.