Discuss the significance of harnessing India's Exclusive Economic Zone and High Seas fishery potential for the blue economy. What safeguards are needed to ensure sustainability?

India's ~11,099 km coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of about 23 lakh sq. km hold an estimated marine fisheries potential of 58.6 lakh MT, much of it under-exploited in deep waters [1]. The Letter of Authorisation (LoA) for high-seas fishing, launched in July 2026, marks India's shift from nearshore dependence to a regulated ocean-going blue economy — but its gains rest on how firmly sustainability is built in.

Significance for the blue economy

• Economic value addition: closing the gap between actual catch and the 58.6 lakh MT potential can raise seafood exports, already ₹73,890 crore in FY 2025-26 [1].
• Livelihood security: supports nearly 50 lakh fishers; deep-sea operations ease pressure on overfished nearshore grounds where incomes are stagnating [1].
• Equity in access: priority to Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations democratises resources long dominated by large operators [1][2].
• Strategic depth: Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep account for 49% of India's EEZ, so activity there strengthens India's maritime footprint [2].
• Formalisation: the ReALCRaft portal creates a single-window, low-discretion system for vessel registration, licensing and Access Passes [2].

Safeguards needed

• Regulate destructive gear: sustain the ban on LED light fishing, pair trawling and bull trawling with real enforcement, not paper prohibition [2].
• Effort control: vessel-specific, non-transferable Access Passes plus science-based catch limits from stock assessments prevent a race to fish.
• Protect small fishers: retain the exemption of traditional and small-scale vessels from Access Pass requirements so formalisation does not exclude the poorest [2].
• Monitoring and safety: mandatory transponders and QR-coded fisher ID cards enable traceability, sea-safety and rescue [2].
• International compliance: Indian-flagged high-seas vessels must meet flag-State duties under the law of the sea and regional fisheries bodies [3].

Deep-sea expansion is credible only when growth and stock health advance together. A cooperative-led, digitally monitored and science-calibrated regime — funded through PMMSY and FIDF [2] — can convert ocean wealth into durable coastal livelihoods, aligning with SDG-14 on life below water.