On 4-11-2025, the Ministry of External Affairs notified the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025 to ensure that marine fisheries resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone are harvested in a way that maintains ecological balance and long-term viability. The provisions came into force on 4-11-2025.
Key Provisions:
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These Rules come under the ambit of the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976.
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Applicable to fishing and fishing related activities in the exclusive economic zone.
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Access pass:
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It will be issued by Issuing Authority which will be an officer not below the rank of Deputy Director in the Department of Fisheries in the Central Government, designated for issuing access pass to fishing vessels for fishing and fishing related activities in the exclusive economic zone;
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Motorized fishing vessels having an overall length of 24 meters and above mechanized vessels should have the access pass to operate in the exclusive economic zone.
Exception: Motorized fishing vessels having overall length less than 24 meters are not required to have access pass except for the ones fishing of tuna and tuna like species.
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Fishing vessels operating in exclusive economic zones have to comply with the sea safety requirements, monitoring, control, and surveillance; and conservation and management measures.
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Access pass will be non-transferable, non-assignable and will be vessel specific.
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Process for issuing access pass:
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Owners of registered fishing vessels can make an application through the ReALCRaft portal in Form I to the Verifying Officer.
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Access pass will be issued subject to the fitness and seaworthiness of the fishing vessel as per the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
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The verification of the application, validity, and authenticity of documents will be checked by the Verifying Officer within 2 weeks and then forwarded to the Issuing Authority.
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Issuing Authority can either refuse or grant access pass within 5 to 10 working days.
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The owner/ operator will have to ensure that the original access pass, in physical or digital form, is prominently displayed on board the fishing vessel.
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Validity and renewal:
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Valid for 3 years;
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Renewal application should be made at least 30 days prior to the expiry of the existing pass.
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Monitoring, control and surveillance:
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Fishing vessel with an access pass will operate from and return to their base port for fish landing.
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In case, fishing vessel intends to enter any other port except for the base port, the Registrar of the fishing vessel, Issuing Authority and the Authorized Officer should be intimated.
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If a fishing vessel is seized or detained by the authorities of any other country, then the vessel owner/ operator will have to promptly report it to the State Fisheries Department and the Issuing Authority.
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Fishing vessels will have to transmit its details to the designated State Fisheries Department for monitoring stations in accordance with the Standard Operation Protocol for Vessel Communication and Support System.
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The Central Government, in consultation with scientific institutions, coastal States, fishers and their associations will specify fisheries management plans following ecosystem approach for sustainable fisheries in the exclusive economic zone, which will be based on the best available scientific information, including fishing mortality or stock biomass levels consistent with management objectives such as Maximum Sustainable Yield.
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Origin of catch:
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Harvesting of fish by Indian vessel operating in the exclusive economic zone will be treated to be of Indian Origin;
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It will not be subjected to import duties, cess or levy when landed at a port located withing territory of India;
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Such harvesting if landed at foreign port will be classified as exports;
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Catch and health certificate:
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Catch certificate will be issued by the Marine Products Export Development Authority;
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Health certificate will be issued by the Export Inspection Council;
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Purpose for issuing certificate- to maintain traceability, compliance with sanitary standards, and eco-labelling, in accordance with applicable national and international regulations.
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The operator/ owner of fishing vessel with an access pass can undertake mid-sea transhipment to a mother vessel in accordance with the applicable measures of the Regional Fisheries Management Organization and the relevant guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India.
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Every fisher and crew member on board a fishing vessel in the exclusive economic zone should carry a QR-coded Aadhaar card or a Marine Fishers Digital Identity Card.
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The following activities can be regulated, restricted and prohibited by the Central Government, in consultation with the States and Scientific Institutions:
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use of dynamite, explosives, poisons, noxious chemicals, or other destructive materials or methods, including pair trawling or bull trawling;
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use/ installation/ operation of surface/ submerged artificial lights or LED lights, fish light attractors or any other light equipment with or without generator on mechanized fishing vessel/ motorized fishing craft for trawling, purse-seining, and gill netting operations;
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capture of juvenile fish or related activities;
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fishing in ‘No Fishing Zones’ or such ‘designated areas’ as notified by the Central Government from time to time;
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fishing during the ban period imposed by the Central Government.
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The vessels operating in the exclusive economic zone will have to comply with the National Plan of Action issued by the Central Government to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.