Bhubaneswar, Jul 9: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Thursday launched the national programme for issuance of Letter of Authorisation (LoA) for sustainable harnessing of fisheries in the high seas, and the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission document.
Speaking on the occasion, Radhakrishnan said the initiative marks the beginning of a new chapter in India’s maritime journey by enabling Indian fishermen to sustainably harness the vast potential of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the high seas.
He said the programme reflects the collective resolve of the Union government, the state government and fishing communities to usher in a new era of growth, sustainability and prosperity in the fisheries sector.
The Vice President noted that India possesses over 11,000 km of coastline and an EEZ of nearly 24 lakh square km, with immense marine wealth that remains largely untapped.
While fishing activities have traditionally remained close to the shore, the new framework would enable Indian fishermen to confidently venture into deep waters for the sustainable harvesting of high-value species such as tuna, Radhakrishnan said.
Highlighting the rapid growth of the fisheries sector, he pointed out that India is today the world’s second-largest fish-producing country, contributing around eight per cent to the global fish production.
The sector supports the livelihoods of nearly three crore fishermen and fish farmers, and seafood exports crossed Rs 73,000 crore during the last financial year, he said.
Radhakrishnan expressed confidence that fishing on high seas would further strengthen India’s export potential and generate employment in harvesting, processing, cold chain, transportation, packaging, logistics and export services.
Emphasising that sustainable fishing is a moral responsibility, he said that economic progress must go hand in hand with conservation of marine resources.
He also underlined the importance of digital authorisation systems, vessel tracking, international certification and strict compliance with measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Urging the youth to view fisheries as a modern profession driven by science, technology, innovation and global opportunities, he called upon institutions to continue supporting fishing communities with knowledge, technology and finance to realise the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
Radhakrishnan, who arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit, launched the two programmes in the presence of Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union ministers Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Dharmendra Pradhan and S P Singh Baghel.
The letter of authorisation is a mandatory provision under the guidelines for sustainable harnessing of fisheries in the high seas by Indian-flagged fishing vessels, officials said.
Designed as a transparent and accountable framework for Indian-flagged vessels undertaking fishing or fishing-related activities in the high seas, the LoA facilitates ease of compliance for fishermen and vessel operators, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said in a statement.
The LoA will also ensure orderly, traceable and monitored operations, it said.
The Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission (2026-2036) is a flagship Blue Economy initiative of the Odisha government aimed at unlocking the state’s offshore and deep-sea fisheries’ potential, and establishing it as a leading deep-sea fishing and marine export hub, the officials said. (PTI)
