The expert committee to review deep sea fishing policy has mooted creation of off-shore buffer zones to augment resources in the near shore waters as well as in off-shore areas.

According to the panel, there is no scope of expansion of fishing efforts in this buffer zone as waters up to 200 metres depth are optimally exploited and some species are over exploited. This buffer zone could be utilised to diversify existing fishing fleet for targeting resources such as squids and reduce pressure on near shore waters in the future, the expert committee constituted by the Centre for Comprehensive Review of Deep Sea Fishing Policy and Guidelines said.

Keeping in view the development in exploitation of the resources in waters beyond 12 nautical miles, the committee headed by B Meenakumari, Deputy Director General (Fisheries) ICAR suggested the urgent need for enacting a comprehensive legislation for the regulation of Indian fishing fleets in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

However, the committee was of the view that waters beyond 500 m depth are not optimally exploited and there is considerable scope of expansion in this zone especially for tuna and tuna-like species. It is estimated that the tuna and tuna-like resources in the Indian EEZ are valued at ₹3,000 crore.

Since there is no Indian fleet to harvest this resource, migratory stock of these species are being caught by fleets of the neighbouring nations such as Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia. This situation, according to the committee, necessitates strong regional cooperation and sustainable exploitation of the resources including conservation of species/stocks.

Given the shortage of expertise to exploit waters beyond 500 m in the country, it is recommended for technology transfer through acquisition of foreign fishing vessels or joint ventures/leasing etc till the domestic capacity is fully developed.

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