What Happened
- Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, launched the digital Access Pass for Fishing in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for all 13 coastal states and Union Territories at Veraval, Gujarat on February 20, 2026.
- The Access Pass is fully digital and free, and is designed to regularise and facilitate offshore fishing operations in India's EEZ — beyond the 12-nautical-mile territorial waters limit.
- The legal framework underpinning the scheme is the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025, notified on November 4, 2025, under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976.
- During the launch, 37 fishermen representing 24 fisheries cooperative societies across all coastal states received their Access Passes; safety kits (life jackets, GPS devices, high-beam torches) were also distributed.
- The initiative is positioned as part of India's Blue Economy vision, aimed at expanding offshore fishing, increasing fisher incomes, and promoting responsible utilisation of marine resources.
Static Topic Bridges
India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Legal Framework and Resource Rights
India's EEZ is a maritime zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from the country's baselines (roughly from the coastline), within which India holds exclusive rights over natural resources — including fisheries, seabed minerals, and energy generation. The EEZ concept is codified in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982), to which India is a signatory. India's domestic legal basis is the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976.
- India's EEZ: approximately 24 lakh sq. km — one of the largest in the world
- Zones under UNCLOS: Territorial Sea (12 nm), Contiguous Zone (24 nm), EEZ (200 nm), Continental Shelf (up to 350 nm in some cases)
- Within the EEZ, India has sovereign rights for exploration, exploitation, conservation, and management — but does not have full sovereignty (foreign vessels retain freedom of navigation)
- India's 7,516 km coastline borders the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean
- India is currently pursuing an Extended Continental Shelf claim beyond 200 nm for seabed mineral rights
Connection to this news: The Access Pass directly operationalises India's sovereign resource rights in the EEZ — previously, governance of EEZ fishing was weak, with most fishing activity concentrated in nearshore waters; this pass extends regulated Indian fishing into deeper, resource-rich zones.
Blue Economy: Policy Framework and India's Fisheries Sector
The Blue Economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ocean ecosystem health. India's Blue Economy vision, articulated in national policy documents, encompasses fisheries, aquaculture, maritime trade, coastal tourism, offshore energy, and seabed mining. India is the world's second-largest fish producer (after China), with the sector employing over 30 million people and contributing approximately 1.1% of GDP. Fisheries are a Union-Concurrent subject, with the Union government setting policy and states managing implementation.
- India's seafood exports: approximately ₹62,408 crore in FY 2024-25
- India: world's 2nd-largest fish producer and aquaculture nation
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): flagship fisheries scheme launched in 2020-21 (₹20,050 crore outlay over 5 years) — covers infrastructure, technology, traceability, and welfare
- National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB): Hyderabad-based statutory body for integrated fisheries development
- Fisheries Cooperative Societies: key delivery mechanism for welfare benefits and credit access to small fishers
Connection to this news: The EEZ Access Pass complements PMMSY's goal of expanding deep-sea fishing and increasing fisher incomes. The EEZ remains significantly under-exploited compared to nearshore waters (which face over-fishing pressure), making this pass a strategic rebalancing.
Fisheries Governance and EEZ Regulation
Prior to the EEZ Access Pass, offshore fishing beyond territorial waters was governed loosely, with regulatory gaps creating both safety and enforcement challenges. The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in EEZ Rules, 2025, create a mandatory registration and pass system for vessels operating in the EEZ, strengthening monitoring, control, and surveillance. This aligns with India's commitments under international fisheries agreements and addresses concerns about Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing — a significant global challenge that affects fish stock sustainability and coastal state resource rights.
- IUU (Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated) fishing: a major threat to global fish stocks; India as a large EEZ nation has both vulnerability and obligation to regulate
- FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (1995): voluntary international framework guiding sustainable fisheries governance
- Fisheries subsidies at WTO: controversial topic — India has argued for differentiated treatment for small-scale fishers in WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies
- GPS tracking and safety kits distributed at launch support UNCLOS Article 94 obligations (flag state responsibility for vessel safety)
- Digital Access Pass enables data capture on fishing effort, species, and catch volumes — foundational for sustainable resource management
Connection to this news: The Access Pass is a direct step towards addressing IUU fishing and formalising EEZ governance — making India's resource rights on paper translate into actual regulatory authority over fishing in its vast marine exclusive zone.
Key Facts & Data
- India's EEZ: approximately 24 lakh sq. km (200 nautical miles from baselines)
- Legal framework: Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, EEZ and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976
- EEZ Rules: Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in EEZ Rules, 2025 (notified November 4, 2025)
- Launch venue: Veraval, Gujarat (February 20, 2026)
- 37 fishermen from 24 fisheries cooperative societies across 13 coastal states and UTs received passes at launch
- India: world's 2nd-largest fish and aquaculture producer
- India's seafood exports: ₹62,408 crore (FY 2024-25)
- PMMSY: ₹20,050 crore flagship fisheries scheme (2020-21 onwards)
- India's coastline: 7,516 km