NITI Aayog has officially released the report “India’s Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries” on 13 October 2025. The strategy lays out a comprehensive roadmap for responsibly developing India’s under-utilised deep-sea and offshore fisheries sector, anchored in scientific, inclusive, and sustainable principles.
India’s marine domain gives it vast potential: an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spanning over 2 million square kilometres and a deep-sea yield estimate of 7.16 million tonnes, which remains largely untapped. The government sees this as a way to both alleviate pressure on coastal fisheries and boost seafood exports, employment, and coastal resilience.
The strategy defines six key intervention areas: regulatory reform; institutional capacity building; fleet modernization and infrastructure upgrades; sustainable fisheries management; financing and investment mechanisms; and community participation. It also proposes a three-phase implementation schedule:
Phase 1 (2025–28): Laying the foundation through enabling regulation, pilot projects, infrastructure setup
Phase 2 (2029–32): Scaling operations, export orientation, competitive readiness
Phase 3 (2033+): Global leadership in sustainable offshore fisheries and integration with marine biotechnology & markets
To support equity, the strategy emphasises cooperative-based fleet ownership, collective models, cluster development, and capacity upgrades for small fishers. Monitoring, ecosystem safeguards, and data-driven governance are central.
This marks India’s first detailed policy push for deep-sea fisheries, seeking to expand marine food systems beyond the coast while embedding ecological safeguards and stakeholder inclusion.
What is India’s Blue Economy Strategy for Deep-Sea Fisheries? → This is a strategic blueprint launched by NITI Aayog to unlock India’s marine potential beyond coastal waters. It sets out regulatory, technological, financial, and institutional reforms to scale deep-sea fishing and offshore fisheries, in alignment with sustainability, export capabilities, and equitable growth for coastal communities.
Full release of the report: NITI Aayog — India’s Blue Economy Strategy PDF
