BHUBANESWAR: Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday launched the national programme for issuance of Letter of Authorisation (LoA) for sustainable harnessing of fisheries in the high seas and the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission document.
Addressing the launch function here, the Vice-President said the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission aims to revive the state’s ancient glory through modern technology and expertise.
Stating that the Centre in 2025-26 budget had recognised the importance of harnessing fisheries resources in exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and high seas, Radhakrishnan said the launch of the LoA framework marks a new chapter in the country’s fisheries sector.
Currently, fishing activities are limited to within 12 nautical miles or 23 km from the sea coast. With the launch of the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission, fishermen of Odisha will be able to fish within 200 nautical miles or 370 km from the coast.
Besides, fishermen who receive the authorisation letter will also be able to go beyond 200 nautical miles and fish in international waters. This initiative will not only strengthen the life and livelihood of fishermen, but also open up new horizons for a prosperous Blue Economy.
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati said India’s long coastline and EEZ provide livelihood to nearly 50 million fisherfolk in the country. He expressed confidence that through this LoA programme, fishing families across the nation will become self-reliant and prosperous.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said LoA was launched in December 2025, for fishing in India’s EEZ from Veraval in Gujarat. So far, 5,000 fisherfolk from across the country have received the pass, including 866 from Odisha. As the next step, eight fishermen from Odisha were issued such LoAs for the first time for fishing in international waters, he said.
Presenting Odisha’s long-term Blue Economy roadmap, Majhi said that aligning with Odisha Vision-2036 and Viksit Bharat-2047, the state government has launched the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document, which will ensure maximum utilisation of the state’s 575-km-long coastline. Modern facilities including fish landing centres, wholesale markets and aqua parks will be developed at Paradip, Dhamra, and Gopalpur ports, as well as at places like Chandipur and Astaranga.
“In the next 10 years, 150 new state- of-the-art deep sea fishing vessels will be deployed at sea and 500 existing fishing vessels will be modernised,” he said.
Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said there is immense potential in India’s Blue Economy and appreciated the transformative initiatives undertaken by the Centre to strengthen the fisheries sector.
Union minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajeev Ranjan Singh said the Centre has invested more than Rs 39,000 crore in the fisheries sector through various flagship schemes, resulting in more than 100 per cent growth in fish production and record seafood exports of Rs 73,891 crore in 2025-26 despite global trade challenges.