Why in news?
The government recently emphasised the need to include coastal communities in decision‑making for fisheries management in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). New rules for the sustainable harnessing of fisheries in the EEZ came into force in 2025, aiming to balance economic opportunities with conservation. India also continues to pursue claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to extend its continental shelf and enlarge its maritime jurisdiction.
Background
An Exclusive Economic Zone is a maritime area extending up to 200 nautical miles (about 370 km) from a country’s baseline. Within this zone a coastal state enjoys sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve and manage natural resources, both living (like fish) and non‑living (like oil, gas and minerals). It also has jurisdiction over marine scientific research and environmental protection. Other countries retain freedoms of navigation and overflight. India enacted the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act in 1976 to define these rights and ratified UNCLOS in 1995. With an EEZ covering around 2.02 million square kilometres, India has the world’s 18th largest EEZ. There is potential to expand it by another million square kilometres if geological evidence supports a continental‑shelf claim.
Key aspects of EEZ management
- Sustainable fisheries: The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ of India Rules, 2025 introduce licensing requirements, catch reporting, vessel monitoring and quotas to prevent overfishing. They also call for the participation of traditional fisherfolk in advisory bodies.
- Resource exploration: India explores hydrocarbons, seabed minerals and renewable energy resources within its EEZ. Technological advances and international partnerships are helping map seabed resources while assessing environmental impacts.
- Environmental protection: Protecting marine ecosystems is a legal obligation under UNCLOS. India is establishing marine protected areas, regulating deep‑sea mining and combating pollution from ships and land‑based sources.
- Blue economy: By developing fisheries, offshore wind, marine tourism and biotechnology in a sustainable manner, India seeks to unlock the economic potential of its oceans while safeguarding livelihoods and biodiversity.
Challenges
- Balancing uses: Competing interests such as fishing, energy extraction, conservation and shipping require careful coordination to avoid conflicts and resource depletion.
- Enforcement capacity: Monitoring vast ocean areas demands modern surveillance technologies, patrol vessels and cooperation with neighbouring countries to curb illegal fishing and maritime crime.
- Climate change: Rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification affect fish stocks and coral reefs, requiring adaptive management strategies.
Conclusion
India’s Exclusive Economic Zone holds immense promise for food security, energy and economic growth. Achieving the right balance between utilisation and conservation will depend on inclusive governance, scientific research and strong enforcement. The new fisheries rules and ongoing continental‑shelf claims reflect India’s efforts to secure and sustainably manage its maritime domain.
Source: The Hindu
