India charts a strategic course to unlock its ocean wealth and build a sustainable blue economy

In a defining move for India’s marine economy, NITI Aayog has launched a comprehensive roadmap to tap the country’s vast but underutilized deep-sea and offshore fisheries potential, estimated at 7.16 million tonnes within its 2 million sq. km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The report, unveiled by Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member (Agriculture), and B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog, outlines a national strategy to transform India into a global leader in sustainable deep-sea fishing, while uplifting the livelihoods of nearly 30 million people who depend on the fisheries sector.

“India’s ocean frontier holds immense promise—not only for food and employment security but also for shaping a resilient blue economy,” said Prof. Ramesh Chand at the launch. “The challenge now is to balance exploration with conservation through science-led management, technology, and inclusive participation.”

Although India is the world’s second-largest fish producer, contributing 8 per cent to global output, its offshore and deep-sea resources remain largely untapped. The new framework aims to bridge that gap—boosting productivity, improving foreign exchange earnings, and reducing the ecological stress on overexploited coastal fisheries.

The fisheries sector has already emerged as a major growth driver, generating Rs 60,523 crore in export earnings during FY 2023–24. Building on this foundation, the NITI Aayog report—presented by Dr. Neelam Patel, Programme Director, Agriculture Technology Division—proposes a science-based, technology-enabled, and socially inclusive model for the future of India’s marine economy.

The blueprint rests on six key pillars:

Regulatory reform, institutional capacity building, fleet modernization, sustainable management, resource mobilization, and community participation. Together, they create a cohesive policy architecture to expand deep-sea operations while ensuring ecological balance.

Crucially, the report places inclusivity at the centre of growth. Acknowledging the capital-intensive nature of deep-sea fishing, it recommends cluster-based models and fisher cooperatives that can pool investments, share infrastructure, and access modern vessels and processing facilities collectively. This approach is designed to democratize access to high-value marine resources while fostering rural entrepreneurship along India’s coasts.

Implementation will unfold in three distinct phases. Phase I (2025–2028) will establish the institutional and technological foundation. Phase II (2029–2032) will focus on scaling up capacity, strengthening exports, and integrating coastal states into global supply chains. Phase III (2033 onward) envisions India’s emergence as a global hub for sustainable deep-sea fisheries, anchored in innovation, traceability, and ecosystem stewardship.

The launch event brought together representatives from 18 national and state-level institutions, alongside delegations from Goa, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu. A high-level discussion followed, focusing on regulatory reform, financing mechanisms, research collaboration, and skill development for the next generation of marine professionals.

Experts view the initiative as a cornerstone for India’s Blue Economy 2.0—one that links ocean health, technology, and inclusive prosperity. By integrating coastal communities with offshore opportunities, NITI Aayog’s new blueprint signals a bold shift from resource extraction to sustainable marine enterprise, positioning India to lead the next wave of global blue growth.