Discuss the significance of 'sustainable harnessing' frameworks for India's EEZ and High Seas fisheries in the context of the Blue Economy.

India's Exclusive Economic Zone extends 200 nautical miles, yet much of its offshore potential remained under-exploited for want of a regulatory architecture. The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules, 2025, notified on 4 November 2025 under the Maritime Zones Act, 1976 [1], converts open-access deep-sea fishing into a licensed, science-guided regime — a decisive institutional step for the Blue Economy.

Economic significance

• Unlocks a targeted 2.48 lakh tonnes of untapped EEZ potential, mainly around Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep, easing pressure on over-fished coastal waters [1].
• Access Pass launched February 2026 for all 13 coastal States/UTs, issued free through the ReALCRaft portal, with catch treated as Indian-origin and exempt from import duty on landing [1].
• Formal authorisation enables traceability certification, critical for meeting EU/US import standards and raising export realisation.

Ecological significance

• The Rules mandate fisheries management plans on an ecosystem approach, built on stock biomass and fishing-mortality data in consultation with scientific institutions [1].
• Licensing applies only to mechanised and motorised vessels of 24 m and above; traditional non-motorised craft are exempt, protecting artisanal livelihoods [1].

Governance and equity significance

• Priority to fishermen cooperatives and FFPOs democratises access to deep-sea vessels, preventing capture by large corporate fleets [1].
• Extension to the High Seas through Letters of Authorisation, launched at OUAT, Bhubaneswar in July 2026 alongside the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document, shows cooperative federalism — national rules operationalised via State missions [2].
• Flag-State authorisation of High Seas fishing aligns India with global obligations against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Sustainable harnessing thus reframes the ocean as a regulated commons rather than an open frontier, balancing income growth with stock renewal. Its success will hinge on real-time catch monitoring, vessel-safety and insurance support, and affordable deep-sea craft for cooperatives. Executed well, it advances SDG-14 (Life Below Water) and makes fisheries a durable pillar of a Viksit Bharat blue economy.