Indian Deep Sea Fishing Vessels in Indian EEZ

1. College of Fisheries Science
Kamdhenu University
Sub: Fisheries Regulation (FRM-505)
Submitted By
Rajesh V. Chudasama,
M.F.Sc., 1st Sem. COF-VRL, KU.
Submitted To
Dr. H. L. Parmar,
Assistant Professor, COF-VRL, KU.

2. Indian Deep Sea Fishing Vessels in Indian EEZ

3. • Deep sea fishing vessels: Fishing vessels of
20-meter overall length and above.
• Deep sea fishing: Activities of fishing beyond 12
nautical miles (1 nautical mile = 1.852 km) from the
shore line.
• EEZ: Exclusive Economic Zone of India which is up to
200 nautical miles from the shore line and beyond &
adjacent territorial water which comes under the
jurisdiction of Union Government. EEZ of India 2.02
km sq.

4. Name of State Deep Sea Fishing Vessel
Daman & Diu 2
Gujarat 59
Kerala 10
TOTAL 71
Vessels Registered as on 01/10/2020
(Including Live, Cancelled, Suspended)

5. Prospects of Deep-Sea Fishing
• Diversification, intensification and extension of fishing to new grounds.
• Landing from incidental by catch to targeted commercial fishery.
• Urgent need for looking forward the unexploited or least exploited resources so as to meet
demand towards the nutritional security of the country as a whole. The Indian EEZ is the only
solution left with us.
• Moreover, there is an ample scope for increasing production by venturing into deeper waters of
the EEZ, which holds a potential of 1.7 million tonnes of underexploited and unexploited fin fishes
and shellfishes. This indicates the amount of opportunity available with us for development of this
sector is huge.

6. Guidelines for Operation of Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels in Indian EEZ
The constitution of India empowers the central government in the department of animal
husbandry, dairying and fisheries on fishing and fisheries beyond the territorial waters
vide seventh schedule of the constitution.
Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other
Maritime Zones Act, 1976 allows any Indian citizen to fish in EEZ.

7. 1. A letter of permission in writing (LOP) is required from the department of animal husbandry,
dairying and fisheries for operating any fishing vessel in Indian EEZ.
Taking into consideration the report of the expert committee to revalidate potential of
marine fishery resources, 2010 permission is accorded for the following fishing methods:
• Long lining for tuna
• Tuna purse seining
• Squid jigging and squid hand lining
• Mid water pelagic trawler
• Trap fishing
• Hook and line fishing
• Pole and line fishing
2. The operation of Indian deep sea fishing vessels will be governed by the executive orders issued/ to be
issued from time to time.

8. 3. The letter of permission should not be transferred to any other company or individual
unless specifically approved by the government.
4. The area of operation of the deep-sea fishing vessels will be regulated by the instructions/
orders issued by the GOI from time to time.
5. The base port for operation of vessel would be any one on the east coast and one on the
west coast.

9. 6. Inspection of vessel by nearest coast guard authority before and after compilation of
each voyage at the shore or sea will be carried out.
7. The vessel should be registered with designated authority.
8. The operator will give prior intimation to the ministry as well as to coast guard before
leaving the Indian EEZ.

10. The Government Policy
• The New Economic Policy (NEP) states that “India’s fishery resources being grossly
underutilized, significant opportunities exist for corporate units in the areas of preservation
and exports”. The deep-sea fishing (DSF) policy was announced by the Gol in March 1991.
• The main components of the DSF policy are:
i. Leasing of foreign vessels for operation in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
ii. Test fishing by engaging foreign fishing vessels.
iii. Joint ventures between Indian and foreign companies in deep-sea fishing (DSF), processing
and marketing.

11. Role of Indian Institute in the Development of Deep-Sea Fishing
• The Fishery Survey of India (FSI) surveys and assesses marine fishery resources in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) to ensure optimum utilization and sustainable development of these resources.
• Headquartered in Mumbai, the FSI has six zonal bases at Mumbai, Mormugao, Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam
and Port Blair.
• Since its inception, the institute’s vessels have engaged in demersal (bottom) trawling, mid-water trawling, purse
seining, tuna longlining and squid jigging.
A. The Fishery Survey of India (FSI)

12. • Survey and assessment of fish stocks and charting of fishing grounds in the Indian EEZ and adjoining
high seas.
• Monitoring of fishery resources for fisheries regulation, management and conservation.
• Maintaining data on deep-sea fishery resources and dissemination of information to different user
groups.
• Human resources development through training of fishing operatives and assistance to sister institutes
in meeting their faculty requirements.

13. The survey fleet of the Institute comprised of 11 vessels.
1. Matsya Vrushti – Mumbai (MH) 2. Matsya Nireekshani – Mumbai
4. MFV Matsya Varshini – Cochin 5. MFV Lavanika - Cochin
8. Yellowfin - Mormugao (Goa) 9. Sagarika – Mormugao (Goa)
3. Blue Marlin - Port Blair (A&N Islands)
6. Matsya Drushti - Chennai 7. Samudrika - Chennai
10. Matsya Shikari - Visakhapatnam 11. Matsya Darshini - Visakhapatnam

14. The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) was constituted in (1972) under the Marine Products
Export Development Authority Act (1972). In India for development of marine fisheries and for fishermen the MPEDA
playing a vital role by following schemes (Policies and Opportunities for Investment in Fisheries in India MPEDA report
1991).
I. Financial assistance for installation of insulated / Refrigerated Fish Hold, Refrigerated Sea Water System (RSW) and Ice
Making Machine on board Mechanized fishing vessels.
II. Financial assistance for the conversion of existing fishing vessels to Tuna long liners.
III. Financial Assistance for constructing New Tuna Long Liners
B. Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)

15. Issues of the Deep-Sea
Fishery Sector
 Strengthening of time series data on the deep
sea the resources
 Higher Capital Investment and Recurring cost
 Non availability of skilled manpower
 Intrinsic life history traits of deep-sea fishes
Challenges of the Deep-Sea
Fishery Sector
 Dearth of investments.
 Lack of awareness among the consumers and low
market acceptability.
 Technology gap for exploitation.
 Lack of value addition technology.
 National security.
 Sustainability / Sectoral concerns.
 Policy bottlenecks.
 Infrastructure facility.

16. Conclusion
• Deep sea vessels are permitted to operate in the Indian EEZ for the long-term sustainable exploitation of
abundant potential resources following the issuance of rules and regulations certificates as required by
responsible central authorities for allowing fees clearance within a specified time frame.
• The Marine Fishing Regulation (Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act of 1981 imposes a catch
limit of any specified species during the prohibition season, as well as mesh size licensing requirements for
vessels.
• Conserve resources in a delicate ecological area. International policies, draught maritime policy By
adhering to the rules, regulation aids security, communication, conflict prevention, poaching and collision
avoidance, bunkering, and resource use.

17. References
• Das, P. (2017). Indian Deep Sea Fisheries - Its Prospects, Issues and Challenges. Journal of Aquaculture & Marine
Biology, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.15406/jamb.2017.05.00112
• New Guidelines dated 12.11.14 for fishing operations in Indian exclusive economic zone 5. (n.d.).
• www.maritimeindia.org
• www.mpeda.gov.in
• www.fishcraft.nic.in
• www.yourarticlelibrary.com
• www.fsi.gov.in
• www.nic.in

18. Thank You !!