Central Government Approves India’s Accession To Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)

Key Highlights:

• The Central Government has approved India’s accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA).
• This decision reinforces India's position in global fisheries governance and expands its fishing fleet into international waters.
• Indian-flagged fishing vessels will now be able to undertake authorized fishing of squids, toothfish, and other non-migratory stocks within SIOFA's jurisdiction.
• Accession enables India to transition from a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party (CNCP) to a Contracting Party, allowing full participation in SIOFA's decision-making bodies.
• The move aligns with the High Sea Fisheries Guidelines issued in December 2025 and advances India’s Blue Economy objectives.

Detailed Insights:

• India will safeguard its strategic interests, broaden economic opportunities, and establish legitimate rights for sustainable harvesting of high-value marine resources.
• The agreement facilitates collaboration on scientific understanding, sustainable harvest of High Seas resources, and prevention of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• It strengthens national coastal security through active involvement in the High Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) Scheme.
• India has been a Contracting Party to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) since 1996, which regulates highly migratory tuna and tuna-like species.
• SIOFA covers fishery resources including fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and other sedentary species, but excludes highly migratory species (Annex I of UNCLOS) and sedentary species under coastal state jurisdiction (Article 77(4) of UNCLOS).
• This accession aims to expand India's fishing capacity beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where vessels currently operate largely within 60-80 nautical miles.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA): An international agreement for the conservation and management of non-migratory fishery resources in the Southern Indian Ocean.
• Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing: Fishing activities conducted in violation of national or international laws, or without proper reporting.
• Blue Economy: Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ocean ecosystem health.
• High Seas: Ocean areas beyond the national jurisdiction of any country, open to all states.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): A sea zone over which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, extending 200 nautical miles from the coast.
• UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea): An international treaty establishing a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities.