Veraval: Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Thursday launched the Access Pass for Fishing in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) at KCC Ground in Veraval, Gujarat, marking a major push to expand offshore fishing and strengthen the country’s Blue Economy.

The event saw participation from representatives of 24 fisheries cooperative societies from all coastal States and Union Territories, with over 2,000 attendees present physically and stakeholders joining virtually from more than 500 locations.

The Minister handed over Access Passes to 37 fishermen representing 24 fisheries cooperative societies and distributed safety kits — including life jackets, high-beam torches and GPS devices — to enhance offshore navigation safety. Grants of ₹2 lakh each were also provided to newly formed fisheries cooperative societies in Gujarat.

Addressing the gathering, Singh said the EEZ framework was finalised after extensive consultations with fishermen associations, cooperatives, States/UTs and scientific institutions to ensure transparency and inclusivity. He informed that applications have already been received through the RealCraft portal and Access Passes will be issued as per notified guidelines over the next month.

He urged fishermen to organise into cooperatives and avail benefits under the new rules, noting that fish catch by Indian vessels in the EEZ and high seas has been made duty-free in Budget 2026. He also highlighted investments in welfare schemes, real-time transponder-based tracking systems and Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories to boost safety and productivity. A Joint Working Group with the Ministry of Cooperation is also being pursued to strengthen fisheries cooperatives and promote deep-sea fishing.

Minister of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel said the Access Pass system is fully digital and designed to enable authorised Indian fishing vessels to operate confidently in offshore waters, while strictly prohibiting foreign vessels from entering India’s EEZ.

Minister of State George Kurian described the initiative as a step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, adding that Veraval has been designated as a Fishing Harbour Cluster under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to enhance operational efficiency and economies of scale.

Union Fisheries Secretary Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi said Access Passes will be issued through a seamless digital portal. He noted that while India’s EEZ spans nearly 24 lakh square kilometres, fishing activity is largely confined within 40–50 nautical miles from the coast. Scientific assessments point to significant untapped potential in deeper waters, particularly for high-value species such as tuna, which command premium export prices. He emphasised sustainable growth, capacity building and infrastructure development, including smart and integrated fishing harbours under PMMSY.

The Access Pass initiative follows the notification of the “Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), 2025” Rules on November 4, 2025, aimed at enabling responsible and regulated utilisation of offshore marine resources. DeshGujarat