Lok Sabha Question No. 387 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Sustainable Fishing in Exclusive Economic Zone
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Shri Dileshwar Kamait, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 387 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  DECEMBER, 2025

## Sustainable Fishing in Exclusive Economic Zone

## † 387. Shri Dileshwar Kamait: Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri: Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai:

Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to state:

- (a) the key features and objectives of the rural notified for sustainable fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ);
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to empower small-scale fishermen, cooperatives and Fishermen Producer Organizations for deep-sea fishing and export oriented activities;
- (c) the  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  transparency,  security,  and traceability through the Realcraft digital platform and the manner in which it has been integrated with other national systems; and
- (d) the  contribution  expected  through  these  steps  with  regard  to  sustainable  fishing, biodiversity conservation and the development of India's Blue Economy?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a):    The  Government  of  India,  Ministry  of  External  Affairs  has  notified  the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025 which aims to empower traditional  and  small-scale  fishermen,  Fisheries  Cooperative  Societies,  and  Fish  Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) to expand their operations to harness the untapped resources of deep-sea, access new income streams with processing and exports, thereby enhancing and strengthening their livelihoods.

(b):  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  is  implementing  a  flagship  scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) which aims to enhance the overall growth of the fisheries sector and wellbeing of the fishers and fish farmers. One of the key objectives of PMMSY is to empower the traditional and small-scale fishers in deep-sea fishing. Accordingly, support is provided under the PMMSY to traditional fishers for acquisition of deep-sea fishing vessels as well as upgradation of existing fishing vessels for export competency. Under the schemes of Blue Revolution, PMMSY and Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), sanctions have been granted towards acquisition of 1243 deep-sea fishing vessels by traditional fishers and for conversion or upgradation of 1330 existing fishing vessels for export competency.

Adopting the 'whole of government approach', the Department of Fisheries, GoI in collaboration with  the  Ministry  of  Cooperation  through  a  Joint  Working  Group  (JWG)  is  promoting  the participation  of  small-scale  fishermen,  cooperatives  and  fisher  societies  in  deep-sea  fishing, value-chain development, processing and exports. The Ministry of Cooperation supports this initiative by strengthening cooperative institutions and facilitating access to cooperative credit through National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). In Maharashtra, 14 deep-sea fishing vessels have been supported with a total project cost of ₹20.30 crore, including NCDC loan assistance of ₹11.55 crore, PMMSY assistance of ₹6.72 crore, and society contribution of ₹2.03 crore. Recently, two societies of fishermen of Mumbai city have received 02 deep-sea fishing vessels under PMMSY on 27.10.2025.

(c): Registration and Licensing of Fishing Craft (ReALCRaft) is a web enabled online application portal established for issuing Vessel Registration Certificate (VRC) and fishing licence or access pass to fishing vessels under relevant laws or rules. ReALCRaft also promotes digital and datadriven  citizen  centric  services  and  maintains  transparency.  VRC  is  issued  by  the  coastal States/UTs under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The ReALCRaft portal has been integrated with Nabhmitra Application and with coastal Security agencies for ensuring safety and security of fishermen out at sea.

(d): The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025 are framed  to  promote  sustainability  of  marine  ecosystem  with  optimum  utilization  of  untapped fishery  resources.  Emphasis  is  also  given  to  promote  ecosystem  approach  for  sustainable harnessing of resources and implementation of the conservation and management measures, such as uniform ban on fishing during monsoon or fish breeding season, minimum legal size of fish for capture, bycatch reduction measures, best practices for reducing post-harvest losses on board the fishing vessel, conservation of fish stocks or rejuvenation measures including sea ranching,  installation  of  artificial  reefs,  identification  and  protection  of  Essential  Fish  Habitat (EFH),  including  spawning,  breeding,  and  feeding  grounds  etc.  The  Rules  also  prohibit destructive fishing and juvenile fishing in the EEZ to protect the marine biodiversity of our seas.

These efforts are expected to significantly enhance the marine sector's contribution to India's seafood  exports,  while  increasing  the  share  of  value-added  seafood  products  in  the  global markets.  Special  emphasis  is  given  on  promoting  exports  of  high-value  seafood  products through certification, traceability and sustainability. These initiative are likely to play a pivotal role in enhancing the seafood export from the country.

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