**Executive Summary**
This document outlines a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Israel on February 26, 2026, to foster cooperation in the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector. The MoU aims to significantly boost India's Blue Economy, improve coastal livelihoods, and establish Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence. A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to oversee implementation and review progress.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Purpose of the MoU:**
* Strengthen India's fisheries and aquaculture sector through technology and sustainable practices.
* Enhance the Blue Economy and improve livelihoods for coastal and fishing communities.
* Promote collaboration by establishing Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence (CoEs).
* Provide technical cooperation for setting up an oceanarium in India.
* **Areas of Cooperation:**
* Advanced Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS).
* Water reuse technologies.
* Automation-based farming.
* Data-driven aquaculture management.
* Biosecure and climate-resilient farming models for water-scarce regions.
* Aquatic disease management.
* Mariculture, including seaweed-based systems.
* Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA).
* Environmentally friendly fishing practices.
* Technology-led marine resource conservation.
* **Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange:**
* Structured exchange programs, training initiatives, and exposure visits.
* Expert-level interactions for officials, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders.
* Linkages between startups, research institutions, and industry.
* Collaboration in water recycling, innovative aquaculture technologies, and product development.
* **Joint Working Group (JWG):**
* Will facilitate implementation, review progress, and evaluate annual work plans.
* Will consider new areas of cooperation.
* Will meet annually, alternating between India and Israel, in person or virtually.
* Both sides will designate nodal officers to coordinate and monitor activities under the MoU.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector:**
* **Impact:** Strengthened through technology-driven and sustainable practices, leading to enhanced productivity and improved livelihoods.
* **Action Required:** Engage with new technologies and practices, participate in training programs, and collaborate with Israeli counterparts.
**Coastal and Fishing Communities:**
* **Impact:** Improved livelihoods due to the enhancement of the Blue Economy and adoption of sustainable practices.
* **Action Required:** Adopt new fishing and aquaculture techniques, participate in capacity-building initiatives, and engage with new market opportunities.
**Government of India (Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying):**
* **Impact:** Required to support and facilitate the implementation of the MoU, including the establishment of Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence and the activities of the Joint Working Group.
* **Action Required:** Implement the MoU, oversee the activities of the JWG, and designate nodal officers to coordinate activities.
**Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security:**
* **Impact:** Required to support and facilitate the implementation of the MoU, including the establishment of Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence and the activities of the Joint Working Group.
* **Action Required:** Implement the MoU, oversee the activities of the JWG, and designate nodal officers to coordinate activities.
**Startups, Research Institutions, and Industry (India and Israel):**
* **Impact:** Increased opportunities for collaboration, technology transfer, and market access in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
* **Action Required:** Participate in exchange programs, form partnerships, and explore opportunities for technology transfer and investment.
Key Entities Referenced
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): Historic MoU between India and Israel in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector, aimed at boosting India's Blue Economy and coastal livelihoods.
India: One of the signatory countries to the MoU, aiming to strengthen its fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Israel: One of the signatory countries to the MoU, involved in establishing Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence.
Joint Working Group (JWG): A group constituted to facilitate the implementation of the MoU, review progress, and evaluate work plans.
Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence (CoEs): New centres to be established for Fisheries and Aquaculture as part of the MoU.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri
Narendra Modi, India and Israel ink historic MoU
in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector
MoU to significantly boost India’s Blue Economy and coastal
livelihoods
MoU paves the way for Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence for
Fisheries and Aquaculture, high-end RAS collaboration, and a
Joint Working Group
Posted On: 27 FEB 2026 4:36PM by PIB Delhi
During the historic visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Israel, a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) was signed on Cooperation in the Field of Fisheries and Aquaculture between
the Hon'ble Minister, Department of Aquaculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Israel, Mr.
Avi Dichter, and the Hon'ble External Affairs Minister, Government of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar today on
26th February 2026.
The MoU aims to strengthen India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector through technology-driven and
sustainable practices, while enhancing the Blue Economy and improving the livelihoods of coastal and
fishing communities. It also seeks to promote professional collaboration in establishing new Indo–Israel
Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for Fisheries and Aquaculture, along with technical cooperation for setting
up an oceanarium in India.The agreement provides a comprehensive framework for cooperation across mutually identified priority
areas. These include collaboration in advanced Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), water reuse
technologies, automation-based farming, and data-driven aquaculture management. The two sides will
also work towards developing biosecure and climate-resilient farming models suitable for water-scarce
and climate-stressed regions. Cooperation will further focus on strengthening aquatic disease management
through novel therapeutics, non-invasive alternatives, and scientific approaches for improving disease
resistance.
The MoU further enhances cooperation in mariculture, including seaweed-based systems, and
supports joint efforts in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), particularly the use of seaweed as
a biofilter and as an alternative feed resource. Both the Countries agreed to promote research and
development in fisheries and aquaculture, encourage environmentally friendly fishing practices, and
advance technology-led marine resource conservation, with a focus on long-term sustainability.
Capacity building and knowledge exchange will be key pillars of this partnership. The two sides will
explore structured exchange programmes, training initiatives, exposure visits, and expert-level interactions
for officials, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders. The collaboration will also strengthen linkages between
startups, research institutions, and industry, particularly in areas such as water recycling, innovative
aquaculture technologies, and product development through incubators and innovation ecosystems.
A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to facilitate implementation, review progress,
evaluate annual work plans, and consider new areas of cooperation. The JWG will meet annually, either in
person or through virtual mode, alternating between India and Israel. Both sides will designate nodal
officers to coordinate and monitor activities under the MoU.
This landmark MoU reflects the shared commitment of India and Israel to deepen cooperation in fisheries
and aquaculture, promote innovation, and strengthen sustainable and climate-resilient development in the
sector. Both sides also welcomed the earlier Declaration of Intent signed in January 2026 and reaffirmed
their resolve to expand collaboration, including through the establishment of Joint Centres of Excellence.
****
JP.
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