**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh will launch an Access Pass for fishing in the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) at Veraval, Gujarat, on February 20, 2026. This launch focuses on operationalising the EEZ Rules, livelihood protection, and export growth. The Access Pass Framework aims to provide a transparent and legally backed system for authorised fishing operations within the EEZ.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **EEZ Rules and Framework:**
* The Government of India notified the "Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), 2025" rules on November 4, 2025.
* The rules promote responsible and sustainable utilisation of marine fisheries resources in the Indian EEZ.
* A National Framework on traceability in fisheries and Aquaculture has been developed.
* A transparent and legally backed Access Pass Framework has been introduced for authorised fishing operations in the EEZ.
* **Objectives and Benefits:**
* Strengthens monitoring, compliance, and safety of fishing operations.
* Improves the livelihoods of marine fishing communities, especially traditional and small-scale fishers, fisheries cooperatives, Self Help Groups and FFPOs.
* Supports deep-sea fishing, fish processing, value addition, and allied activities to grow seafood exports.
* Empowers Indian fishers to access high-value resources, meet export standards, and enhance their income.
* Aims to transition India from nearshore-dependent fishing towards a sustainable offshore fisheries regime.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* A Joint Working Group (JWG) has been constituted by the Department of Fisheries with the Ministry of Cooperation.
* The Department of Fisheries has focused on developing 34 fisheries production and processing clusters, including the Fishing Harbour Cluster at Veraval, Gujarat.
* Government efforts aim to enhance value addition and ensure end-to-end traceability across the seafood value chain through digital integration.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Fishers and Fishing Communities**
* **Impact:** Improved livelihoods through access to high-value resources, meeting export standards, and enhanced income.
* **Action Required:** Obtain Access Pass for fishing operations in the EEZ.
**Stakeholder: Fisheries Cooperatives, Self Help Groups, FFPOs**
* **Impact:** Opportunities to participate in deep-sea fishing, fish processing, value addition, and allied activities.
* **Action Required:** Engage with relevant government initiatives to leverage opportunities in deep-sea fishing and related activities.
**Stakeholder: Seafood Exporters**
* **Impact:** Potential growth in seafood exports due to strengthened quality assurance, compliance with international standards, and access to premium global markets.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with new regulations and standards to access global markets.
**Stakeholder: Department of Fisheries, Government of India**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and monitoring the new EEZ rules and Access Pass Framework.
* **Action Required:** Oversee the launch and implementation of the Access Pass Framework, monitor its effectiveness, and support the development of fisheries production and processing clusters.
Key Entities Referenced
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Maritime zone extending 200 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state, within which the state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources.
Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), 2025: Rules notified by the Government of India to provide a legal and institutional framework for fisheries in the EEZ.
Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976: Indian law under which the Rules for "Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), 2025" were notified.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D): The Indian ministry responsible for fisheries development and policy.
Veraval, Gujarat: Location of the national launch of the access pass for fishing in the EEZ and site of a major fishing harbour cluster.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh to launch
Access pass for Fishing in Economic Exclusive
Zone (EEZ) at Veraval, Gujarat
Focus on operationalising the EEZ Rules, livelihood
protection and export growth
Posted On: 18 FEB 2026 2:25PM by PIB Delhi
Hon’ble Union Minister, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh Alias Lalan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal
Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) and Panchayati Raj to launch Access pass for fishing in EEZ on
20th February 2026 at Veraval, Gujarat.
India is endowed with a vast and diverse marine resource base, supported by a coastline of approximately
11,099 km and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of about 24 lakh square kilometres. This extensive
maritime domain constitutes a significant component of India’s natural capital and offers immense
potential for sustainable fisheries development, livelihood generation, food security and export growth.
India presently ranks as the second-largest producer of fisheries and aquaculture globally, and exported
seafood valued at around ₹62,408 crore during FY 2024-25.
Most fishing activity remains limited to 40–50 nautical miles from the coastline, while the vast EEZ,
extending from 12 to 200 nautical miles, remains underutilised despite significant potential, particularly
for high-value species such as tuna.To harness the untapped potential, in pursuance of the Union Budget announcement 2025-26 and to
provide a robust legal and institutional framework for fisheries in the EEZ, Government of India has
notified the Rules for “Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), 2025”
under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act,
1976 (Act 80 of 1976) on 4th November 2025 to promote responsible and sustainable utilisation of marine
fisheries resources in the Indian EEZ. In addition, a National Framework on traceability in fisheries and
Aquaculture has been developed.
These measures strengthen monitoring, compliance and safety of fishing operations, while improving the
livelihoods of marine fishing communities, with a special focus on empowering traditional and small-scale
fishers, fisheries cooperatives, Self Help Groups and FFPOs to participate in deep-sea fishing fish
processing, value addition and allied activities, thereby supporting growth of seafood exports. In this
direction, a Joint Working Group (JWG) has been constituted by the Department of Fisheries with
Ministry of Cooperation to further strengthen fisheries cooperatives in deep sea fishing and its entire value
chain including processing, value addition, marketing and exports.
Furthermore, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, has envisaged a strategic focus on the
development of 34 fisheries production and processing clusters across key regions of the country,
including the Fishing Harbour Cluster at Veraval, Gujarat, given its prominence as a major processing and
export hub.
India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector is entering a new era of transformation, driven by a strong
governmental thrust on export competitiveness, digital integration, and sustainable growth. A key priority
of the Government is to enhance value addition and ensure end-to-end traceability across the seafood
value chain. The integration of digital platforms with catch certification, health certification and modern
processing infrastructure is strengthening quality assurance and compliance with international standards.
These efforts are expected to unlock access to premium global markets, improve value realisation, and
ensure that the gains from India’s seafood exports accrue directly to fishers and coastal communities.
A central feature of the EEZ Rules is the introduction of a transparent and legally backed Access Pass
Framework for authorised fishing operations in the EEZ. This framework and Access Pass will empower
Indian fishers to access high-value resources, meet export standards such as traceability, certification and
significantly enhance their income across the fisheries value chain.
The launch represents a decisive step towards operationalizing a transparent, sustainable and fisher-centric
governance framework for offshore fisheries in the EEZ of India. It symbolizes India’s transition from
nearshore-dependent fishing towards a sustainable and future-ready offshore fisheries regime, aimed at
unlocking the untapped potential of deep-sea resources, enhancing fishers’ incomes, strengthening seafood
exports and advancing the national vision of a prosperous and inclusive Blue Economy.
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JP
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