High-seas fishing is dominated by a few distant-water fleets. What institutional and capacity reforms does India need to claim an equitable share?

The high seas cover about 65% of the global ocean. Yet China (21%), Taiwan (13%), Japan (11%), South Korea (11%) and Spain (8%) take most of the high-seas catch, while Indian vessels mostly stay within 60–80 NM of the coast [1]. India's accession to SIOFA gives it a seat at the table. To turn that seat into a fair share, India now needs institutional and capacity reforms.

Why India's share is small

• Fleet gap: India's boats are small and work close to shore. They lack deep-water gear and on-board freezing [1].
• Late entry: India was only a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party from 2022 and had to renew that status every year [1][3]. It had no vote while the rules were being set.
• Incumbent advantage: the distant-water fleets already have the boats, years of catch data and experienced crews [1].

Institutional reforms

• Use the vote actively: argue for catch-allocation rules that weigh the needs of coastal developing states, not just past catch [1].
• Science diplomacy: send Indian scientists to SIOFA's Scientific Committee and fund survey voyages, so that India brings its own stock data [1].
• Compliance system: link the mandatory Letter of Authorisation (LoA) to vessel tracking and catch reporting. India answers to the Compliance Committee for every vessel it lists [1][2].
• Security link: share findings from the High Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) Scheme with maritime security agencies [1].
• One nodal cell: have a single cell in the Fisheries Ministry coordinate India's positions in IOTC (tuna) and SIOFA (non-migratory stocks) [1].

Capacity reforms

• Fleet modernisation: build or acquire deep-sea vessels that can catch squid, toothfish and alfonsino [1].
• Cooperative pooling: LoAs have already gone to fish farmer producer organisations (FFPOs) and cooperatives [2]. Letting several groups share one rule-compliant vessel and its monitoring equipment keeps artisanal fishers from being crowded out.
• State missions: other coastal states can copy the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission to build training, processing and export chains [2].
• Access agreements: fishing in other countries' EEZs can build crew experience and bring in revenue [1].
• Precaution: deep-sea stocks grow slowly. Funding bycatch monitoring now protects investments if fishing areas are restricted later.

SIOFA membership lets India help make the rules instead of only following them. But without its own boats and data, membership brings diplomatic standing and little fish. Combining active rule-making with a cooperative-led, science-backed fleet can secure a fair share and advance India's Blue Economy goals in line with SDG 14 (Life Below Water).