Bhubaneswar, 09 July (H.S.) : India's blue economy received a major boost on Thursday as Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan launched the National Letter of Authorization (LoA) for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas at a national-level event held at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar. The initiative marks the beginning of a new chapter in India's deep-sea fisheries sector, enabling Indian fishing vessels to undertake responsible fishing operations in international waters.
On the occasion, the Vice President also unveiled the Odisha Deep Sea Fisheries Mission Document (2026–2036), a strategic roadmap aimed at transforming the state's marine fisheries sector over the next decade.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President said the mandatory LoA system would bring greater transparency, accountability and scientific management to deep-sea fishing operations. Integrated with the RealCraft Fishing Vessel Registration Portal, the online authorization mechanism will facilitate real-time monitoring, simplify regulatory compliance and strengthen India's position in the global seafood market.
He noted that India exported marine products worth nearly ₹73,890 crore during 2025–26, making the country one of the world's leading seafood exporters. With most fishing activities currently confined to 40–50 nautical miles from the coast, the new policy will enable Indian vessels to harvest high-value species such as tuna in international waters, significantly enhancing seafood exports while ensuring sustainable utilization of marine resources.
Beginning his address in Odia after paying tribute to Lord Jagannath, the Vice President recalled Odisha's rich maritime heritage reflected in the historic Bali Jatra and Boita Bandana traditions. He said the Deep Sea Fisheries Mission revives that glorious legacy through modern technology and scientific fisheries management.
Commending Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's visionary leadership, he said India's marine fisheries sector has undergone transformational reforms in recent years. Describing the fishing community as a vital contributor to the national economy, he emphasized that seafood has emerged as one of the world's most important sources of protein, making sustainable marine resource management increasingly significant.
The Vice President also distributed Letters of Authorization to eligible stakeholders, including marine fisheries cooperatives and vessel owners from Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and other coastal states. The authorizations will allow qualified Indian-flagged fishing vessels to undertake regulated fishing beyond India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in international waters.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati said India's vast coastline and EEZ support the livelihoods of nearly 50 million fishermen, and the new LoA framework would strengthen their economic security while ensuring sustainable fisheries development. He observed that coastal states like Odisha stand to benefit significantly from the initiative.
Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi described the national launch from Odisha as a matter of immense pride for the state. Welcoming the Vice President and Union Ministers to the land of Lord Jagannath, he said Odisha's nearly six lakh marine fishermen would directly benefit from the initiative.
The Chief Minister informed that while the Government of India had introduced the Access Pass System for fishing within India's EEZ in December 2025, the LoA now opens the next phase by enabling Indian fishermen to operate in international waters. He said 866 fishermen from Odisha are among the 5,000 beneficiaries who have already received access passes, while eight fishermen from Odisha were presented LoAs during the inaugural programme. Additionally, two Deep Sea Fishing Vessels (DSFVs) received operational approval under the Chief Minister's Agriculture Enterprise Scheme.
Outlining Odisha's long-term Blue Economy strategy, the Chief Minister announced that the Odisha Deep Sea Fisheries Mission has been aligned with Odisha Vision 2036 and Viksit Bharat 2047. The mission aims to fully utilize the state's 575-km coastline by developing modern fish landing centres, wholesale fish markets and aqua parks at Paradip, Dhamra, Gopalpur, Chandipur, Astaranga and other strategic locations.
He further announced that Odisha plans to deploy 150 new state-of-the-art deep-sea fishing vessels over the next ten years while modernising 500 existing fishing boats. The government also intends to strengthen fisheries cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), digitize the fisheries sector and promote scientific fisheries management, infrastructure development, value-chain expansion and market integration to substantially increase fishermen's income.
Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said Odisha possesses enormous potential in marine fisheries production, processing and exports. He expressed confidence that with continued support to fishermen and enhanced deep-sea fishing infrastructure, Odisha could soon emerge as one of India's leading seafood-producing and exporting states.
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Panchayati Raj Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh highlighted the policy reforms undertaken by the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership to promote sustainable utilization of marine resources and strengthen India's fisheries economy.
The event was attended by Union Minister of State for Fisheries Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Odisha Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Shri Gokulananda Mallik, Chief Secretary Smt. Anu Garg, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, senior government officials, representatives of fisheries cooperatives and FFPOs, marine entrepreneurs, award-winning fishermen and stakeholders from coastal states across the country.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
