Bhubaneswar, July 8 (UNI) Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will on Thursday launch the Letter of Authorisation (LoA) for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas and unveil the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission (2026–2036) Document at a national-level event in Bhubaneswar.
The launch marks the beginning of a regulated, transparent and sustainable framework for authorised fishing by Indian-flagged vessels beyond India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The initiative is aimed at promoting responsible high-seas fishing while empowering Indian fishing vessels to sustainably harness marine resources.
Around 1,000 fish farmers and fishers, including women, are expected to participate in the programme, along with senior officials from the Government of Odisha, the union Government and various line departments.
As part of the event, the Vice President will distribute Letters of Authorisation to fisheries cooperative societies, including the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), and eligible fishing vessel owners, enabling Indian-flagged vessels to undertake regulated fishing operations in the high seas.
The LoA is a mandatory requirement under the Guidelines for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas by Indian-Flagged Fishing Vessels, 2025. It provides a transparent, accountable and digitally enabled framework for vessels engaged in high-seas fishing and related activities.
The vessel-specific and non-transferable authorisation is integrated with the ReALCraft Fishing Vessel Registration Portal, ensuring traceability, monitoring and orderly management of fishing operations. The online system enables real-time application tracking, minimal compliance costs and hassle-free renewal, making it easier for fishers and vessel operators to comply with regulatory requirements.
Vessels operating under the LoA will be required to adhere to conservation and management measures prescribed by the relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). These include catch limits, gear regulations, bycatch mitigation measures, Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) management, voyage reporting and other internationally accepted sustainable fishing practices.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) and fisheries cooperatives by facilitating their participation in deep-sea and high-seas fisheries, improving access to high-value marine resources and creating new income opportunities for fishing communities.
The Department of Fisheries under the union Government has placed special emphasis on strengthening fisheries cooperatives and FFPOs while accelerating the digitisation of the fisheries sector to improve transparency, governance and service delivery.
The Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission (2026–2036), a flagship Blue Economy initiative of the Odisha Government, seeks to unlock the state's offshore and deep-sea fisheries potential and establish Odisha as a leading deep-sea fishing and marine export hub.
The mission envisages investments in modern fishing infrastructure, scientific fisheries management, value addition, market linkages and export-oriented value chains. It aims to increase fish production, generate employment, enhance the incomes of fishers and promote sustainable growth of the marine fisheries sector.
The initiative also reflects India's commitment to the responsible utilisation of oceanic fisheries resources, strengthening fisher livelihoods, boosting seafood exports, complying with global sustainability standards and advancing the national vision of an inclusive and prosperous Blue Economy.
The national launch programme will be attended by Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh, union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, union Minister of State for Fisheries Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, and Odisha Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik, among other dignitaries.
UNI DP