The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is holding a national workshop on 17th September 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The event will bring together fishing communities, government officials and industry bodies to discuss how India can expand deep-sea fishing operations and tap into high-value marine resources.
What the workshop will cover
The workshop will focus on four main areas: technology adoption, access to finance, skill building for fishers and crew, and connecting producers to markets. Participants will hear expert talks and case studies on modernizing fishing vessels, sustainable harvesting of species like tuna in India’s waters, improving post-harvest handling and processing, and meeting international export standards.
The government recently introduced two new rules to manage deep-sea fishing. The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules, 2025 created an Access Pass system for vessels operating between 12 and 200 nautical miles from the coast. The pass is issued free through the ReALCraft Portal. So far, 9,650 Access Passes have been granted.
Small traditional boats and non-motorized craft do not need the pass. Only mechanized vessels and large motorized boats over 24 metres in length require it.
India has an Exclusive Economic Zone spanning about 24 lakh square kilometres with an estimated marine fish potential of 58.6 lakh metric tonnes. Most current fishing happens within 40 to 50 nautical miles of shore. The workshop aims to shift this focus to deeper waters where high-value species remain largely unharvested.
What this means for you
If you operate a fishing vessel or run a fisheries cooperative, the workshop will explain how to obtain necessary permits, access loans and modern equipment, and connect with export markets. The government is positioning deep-sea fishing as a way for coastal communities to increase incomes and for India to grow its seafood exports, which reached around ₹73,890 crore in the 2025-26 financial year.