Gandhinagar, February 19: On February 20, Gujarat will witness the launch of the ‘Access Pass’ framework for fishing in India’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This initiative is seen as a significant step towards implementing sustainable fishing practices under the SEZ regulations of 2025.
The launch will be officiated by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who oversees the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, and Panchayati Raj.
According to the ministry, India boasts approximately 11,099 kilometers of coastline and around 2.4 million square kilometers of Special Economic Zone, offering a vast and diverse marine resource base. This extensive marine area is a crucial part of India’s natural wealth, presenting immense opportunities for sustainable fisheries development, livelihood creation, food security, and export growth. Currently, India ranks as the second-largest producer of fish and aquaculture globally, exporting marine products worth about ₹62,408 crores during the fiscal year 2024-25.
At present, most fishing activities are limited to 40-50 nautical miles from the coastline, while the expansive SEZ, stretching from 12 to 200 nautical miles and rich in high-value species like tuna, remains underutilized.
To harness this untapped potential and in compliance with the 2025-26 Union Budget announcement, the Indian government has established a robust legal and institutional framework for fishing in the SEZ. This includes the notification of the “Sustainable Exploitation Rules for Fishing in the Special Economic Zone, 2025” under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone, and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 (Act 80, 1976) on November 4, 2025. Additionally, a national framework has been developed to enhance the exploratory capacity in fisheries and aquaculture.
A key feature of the SEZ regulations is the introduction of a transparent and legally supported ‘Access Pass’ framework for authorized fishing activities. This framework will provide Indian fishermen access to high-value resources, enable compliance with export standards such as traceability and certification, and significantly increase their income within the fish value chain.
The launch marks a decisive step towards implementing a transparent, sustainable, and fisher-centric management framework for offshore fishing in India’s SEZ. It symbolizes a transition from coastal-dependent fisheries to a sustainable and future-ready offshore fishing system, aimed at unlocking the untapped potential of deep-sea resources, enhancing fishermen’s incomes, strengthening marine food exports, and advancing a prosperous and inclusive blue economy vision for the nation.
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