BHUBANESWAR, 17 July 2026: Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan launched the Letter of Authorisation (LoA) for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas and unveiled the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission (2026–2036) at a national event organised by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, in Bhubaneswar.
The launch marks a major step towards enabling Indian-flagged fishing vessels to undertake regulated high-seas fishing while promoting sustainability, traceability and greater participation of fisheries cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs).
The event was attended by Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Fisheries Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Minister of State S.P. Singh Baghel, Odisha Fisheries Minister Gokulananda Mallik and senior government officials. Nearly 1,000 fishers, fish farmers and women beneficiaries also participated.
Addressing the gathering, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan said the LoA framework would open access to high-value marine resources while ensuring responsible and sustainable fishing. He emphasised that quality standards, traceability and international certifications would strengthen India's seafood exports and help the country access premium global markets. He also called for stronger fisheries cooperatives and greater youth participation in the Blue Economy.
During the programme, the Vice President distributed LoAs to fisheries cooperative societies, including the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), and several fishing vessel owners, enabling them to undertake regulated fishing operations in the high seas.
Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said the LoA operationalises the Union Budget 2025–26 announcement to sustainably harness fisheries resources in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the high seas. He said the initiative would unlock untapped marine resources through a fully digital, transparent system while prioritising fisheries cooperatives and FFPOs. The minister also highlighted that the government has invested over INR 39,000 crore in the fisheries sector, resulting in record seafood exports worth INR 73,891 crore in 2025–26.
The Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission aims to transform the state into a leading deep-sea fishing and marine export hub over the next decade. The mission will focus on modern fishing infrastructure, scientific fisheries management, value-chain development and market linkages to increase fish production, generate employment and improve fisher incomes.
Odisha currently produces 12.7 lakh metric tonnes of fish annually and supports the livelihoods of over 16 lakh fishers and fish farmers. The state exported seafood worth INR 5,428.67 crore during 2025–26, driven largely by shrimp and other high-value aquaculture products.
The LoA framework, integrated with the ReALCraft Fishing Vessel Registration Portal, introduces a vessel-specific, non-transferable authorisation system with online applications and real-time tracking. The government said the initiative will strengthen governance, improve compliance with international fisheries management standards and promote sustainable utilisation of marine resources while boosting India's Blue Economy.
