Union Minister Launches Deep-Sea Vessels to Modernize Fisheries and Boost Blue Economy
SDG 14: Life Below Water | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Cooperation | Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the distribution of state-of-the-art Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai, marking a significant step toward modernizing India’s marine fisheries sector. This initiative, aligned with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and strengthening the Blue Economy, aims to enhance deep-sea fishing capacity to explore resources in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and High Seas.
The new vessels are being provided to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with a unit cost of ₹1.2 Crore, supported by financial contributions from the Government of Maharashtra, the NCDC, and the Department of Fisheries. A key focus is empowering fisheries cooperative societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) to sustainably harness the potential of high-value fisheries, such as tuna. Crucially, the program places a strong emphasis on promoting women-led cooperative enterprises to drive inclusive growth and socio-economic transformation in coastal regions.
This cooperative-led deep-sea fishing initiative addresses two key policy challenges: transitioning the marine sector from conventional coastal fishing to advanced, sustainable deep-sea operations, and enhancing rural prosperity by formally integrating coastal communities and women into the high-value fisheries value chain.
What is the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)? → The PMMSY is a flagship scheme of the Government of India launched in 2020 to bring about the sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector. It seeks to modernize the sector, enhance fish production and exports, improve quality control, and double the incomes of fish farmers and fishers through strategic interventions and infrastructure development.
What is an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)? → An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a sea zone over which a sovereign state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind. It extends from the baseline (usually the low-water mark) out to a maximum of 200 nautical miles (approximately 370 kilometers) from its coast. Within the EEZ, the coastal state has sovereign rights for exploiting resources like fish stocks and mineral deposits, while foreign vessels retain the freedom of navigation and overflight.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What regulatory and financial safeguards will be implemented to ensure the new deep-sea fishing capacity operates sustainably without depleting resources in the Indian EEZ?
Follow the full news here: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will inaugurate Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai tomorrow