Deep-Sea Fishing Will Be Legal: Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan Launches LoA in Bhubaneswar

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Bhubaneswar: It was a landmark day for India’s fisheries sector as Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan launched the Letter of Authorization, or LoA, in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, a move that will now make deep-sea fishing legal for Indian fishermen.

More than 5 lakh marine fishermen in Odisha are expected to benefit directly from this initiative.

With the LoA in place, fishermen will be able to legally venture into the Bay of Bengal and beyond into deeper international waters to catch high-value species like tuna. The LoA is an official permit issued by the Union Ministry of Fisheries for specific vessels.

According to the ‘High Seas’ Rules 2025, no Indian-flagged vessel will be allowed to fish in the high seas without a valid LoA. The authorization will be non-transferable and valid only for one particular vessel, which must be registered on the national ReALCRaft portal and equipped with a Vessel Monitoring System.

Fishermen can apply online through the ReALCRaft portal by paying a fee of Rs. 25,000, and if all documents are in order, the permit will be issued within 15 working days.

The LoA will remain valid for three years and can be renewed. Fishing will be permitted only in designated areas and for specific species, and fishermen will have to maintain records through an e-logbook.

Any violation of the rules could lead to forfeiture of the bank guarantee and cancellation of the permit.

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The launch of LoA is part of the newly approved Rs. 2,295 crore ‘Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission’.

The mission aims to increase the state’s annual marine fish production to nearly 2 lakh metric tonnes by 2036, create over 50,000 new jobs, and push marine exports to Rs. 5,000 crore.

Officials said the new system will protect fishermen from allegations of illegal fishing in international waters and from the fear of vessel seizures.

Fish landed in India under this framework will receive “Indian Origin” status, which will help them command better prices in foreign markets.

The government has also announced plans to modernize ports such as Paradip and Dhamra, and to develop cold chains and seafood parks to support the sector.

With this step, the government aims to make deep-sea fishing safer, legal, and more profitable for coastal communities while strengthening India’s presence in the global seafood trade.

Also read: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan arrives at Bhubaneswar

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