Bhubaneswar: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Thursday launched the national programme for issuing Letters of Authorisation (LoAs) for the sustainable harvesting of fisheries in the High Seas, marking a major step towards expanding India's deep-sea fishing sector.

During the event in Bhubaneswar, the Vice President also unveiled the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document and handed over Letters of Authorisation to ten Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FPPOs) and fishermen from different parts of the country.

Addressing the gathering, Radhakrishnan said the initiative opens a new chapter in India's maritime development by enabling fishermen to sustainably utilise the country's vast marine resources within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas. He said the programme reflects the joint commitment of the Union Government, state governments and fishing communities to promote growth, sustainability and prosperity in the fisheries sector.

The Vice President noted that India has a coastline of more than 11,000 kilometres and an Exclusive Economic Zone covering nearly 24 lakh square kilometres. Despite possessing rich marine resources, much of the potential remains untapped as fishing activities have largely been confined to coastal waters. He said the new framework would encourage Indian fishermen to venture into deeper waters to sustainably harvest high-value species such as tuna.

Highlighting the growth of the fisheries sector, he said India is now the world's second-largest fish producer, contributing around 8 per cent of global fish production. The sector supports the livelihoods of nearly three crore fishermen and fish farmers, while seafood exports exceeded ₹73,000 crore in the last financial year.

He expressed confidence that the High Seas fishing initiative would further boost seafood exports while creating employment opportunities in harvesting, fish processing, cold chain infrastructure, transportation, packaging, logistics and export services.

Radhakrishnan said the new authorisation framework gives priority to fisheries cooperatives, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations and Indian fishermen for the issuance of LoAs. He described it as an important step towards empowering coastal communities and strengthening their participation in the country's blue economy.

Stressing the need for sustainable fishing practices, the Vice President said economic growth must go hand in hand with the conservation of marine resources. He highlighted the importance of digital authorisation systems, vessel tracking, international certification and strict compliance with measures to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Calling upon the younger generation to consider fisheries as a modern, technology-driven profession, he urged institutions to continue supporting fishing communities through knowledge, innovation, technology and financial assistance to help realise the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

The programme was attended by Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of State S. P. Singh Baghel, Odisha Minister of State for Fisheries and MSME Gokulananda Mallik, along with senior government officials, representatives of fisheries institutions, fishermen's organisations and other stakeholders.