Vice-President Launches High Seas Fisheries Programme in Odisha

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan launched the High Seas Fisheries Programme in Bhubaneswar.
Letters of Authorisation (LoAs) were distributed to ten Fish Farmer Producer Organisations and fishermen.
The initiative aims to promote sustainable deep-sea fishing, boost seafood exports and generate employment.

BHUBANESWAR: The high seas fisheries programme was officially launched on Thursday by Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, marking a major step in India’s efforts to promote sustainable fishing beyond coastal waters. At a ceremony in Bhubaneswar, the Vice-President also unveiled the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document and distributed Letters of Authorisation (LoAs) to ten Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FPPOs) and fishermen from different parts of the country.

The programme is designed to enable Indian fishermen to responsibly harvest marine resources in the high seas while strengthening the country’s maritime economy.

High Seas Fisheries Programme to Expand India’s Maritime Economy

Addressing the gathering, Radhakrishnan highlighted India’s maritime potential, pointing to the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of nearly 24 lakh square kilometres and an 11,000-kilometre coastline.

He said a significant portion of these marine resources remains underutilised and that the new authorisation framework would encourage fishermen to venture into deeper waters to catch high-value species, including tuna.

The initiative is expected to enhance India’s position as the world’s second-largest fish-producing nation while supporting sustainable utilisation of marine resources.

Fisheries Sector Expected to Gain from Sustainable Expansion

The Vice-President said the fisheries sector currently supports around three crore livelihoods and contributes approximately ₹73,000 crore in annual seafood exports.

He noted that expanding deep-sea fishing activities would strengthen the entire fisheries value chain by creating additional opportunities in harvesting, processing, packaging, cold-chain logistics and exports.

Radhakrishnan also stressed that sustainable fishing practices are essential for protecting marine ecosystems. He urged fishermen to comply with digital authorisation systems, vessel tracking mechanisms and international certification standards to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Youth Encouraged to Join Technology-Driven Fisheries Sector

Calling fisheries a modern and technology-oriented profession, the Vice-President encouraged young people to explore opportunities in the sector as part of the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

The event was attended by Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Dharmendra Pradhan, S.P. Singh Baghel, along with senior officials and representatives from the fisheries sector.

Also Read | Odisha Traffic Rule Enforcement Tightened, Vehicles Without Documents to Be Seized

You May Like

Trending Searches Today |

Amazon Online Shopping

Bestseller #1