Important Indian Policies, Acts and Schemes on Marine Conservation and Fisheries

India possesses a vast coastline of 7,516.6 km, an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spanning 2.02 million square km, and a continental shelf area of 0.53 million square km. The fisheries sector provides livelihood to over 28 million people, making marine resource management, sustainable fishing, and ocean conservation critical priorities. Under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, alongside the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), India operates a comprehensive legal, statutory, and policy framework to regulate marine spatial planning, modernize fisheries infrastructure, and protect fragile coastal ecosystems.

Legal and Statutory Framework for Marine Conservation

Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, EEZ and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976

• Establishes India’s sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and boundaries over its maritime zones in accordance with UNCLOS principles.
• Demarcates the territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles, the contiguous zone up to 24 nautical miles, and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
• Grants the Central Government exclusive jurisdiction to regulate economic exploitation, scientific research, and environmental protection in the EEZ.

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Amended 2022)

• Provides the highest level of legal protection to critical marine species under Schedule I, including whale sharks, dugongs, sea turtles, marine corals, and giant clams.
• Empowers state governments to declare Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), marine national parks, and marine sanctuaries to safeguard aquatic habitats.
• Prohibits the hunting, commercial trade, and destruction of habitats belonging to protected marine fauna and flora.

Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019

• Issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to regulate development activities along the 7,516.6 km coastline and promote sustainable management.
• Classifies coastal areas into four distinct operational zones: CRZ-I (Ecologically Sensitive Areas), CRZ-II (Urban Developed Areas), CRZ-III (Rural Undeveloped Areas), and CRZ-IV (Water Area up to 12 nautical miles).
• Streamlines clearance procedures and permits eco-tourism facilities in CRZ-III areas while preserving traditional fishing community access rights.

Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs) of Coastal States

• Enacted individually by coastal states under Entry 21 of the State List (List II, Seventh Schedule) to regulate fishing activities within territorial waters (up to 12 nautical miles).
• Mandates annual seasonal fishing bans (monsoon trawl bans) on both the East and West coasts to allow fish breeding and stock replenishment.
• Prescribes minimum mesh sizes for nets, bans destructive gear like pair trawling and electric fishing, and reserves coastal waters for traditional non-motorized fishermen.

Key Government Schemes and Financial Interventions

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

• Launched in September 2020 under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying with an investment of ₹20,050 crore for five years.
• Aims to increase fish production to 22 million metric tonnes and double export earnings to ₹1,00,000 crore.
• Focuses on modernizing fishing harbors, promoting deep-sea fishing vessel acquisition, deploying artificial reefs, and introducing insurance coverage for fishers.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)

• Established with a total fund corpus of ₹7,522.48 crore to provide concessional finance to state governments, cooperatives, and private entrepreneurs.
• Financed through Nodal Loaning Entities including NABARD, National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC), and scheduled commercial banks.
• Subsidizes interest up to 3% per annum for constructing modern fish landing centers, cold chain infrastructure, and processing plants.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)

• Approved as a Central Sector Sub-scheme under PMMSY with an outlay of ₹6,000 crore to formalize the unorganized fisheries sector.
• Facilitates institutional credit access, micro-insurance coverage, and digital identity cards for fish vendors, micro-enterprises, and traditional aquaculture farmers.
• Encourages adoption of climate-resilient practices and quality compliance frameworks across small-scale supply chains.

National Policies and Conservation Missions

Marine Conservation and Fishing Regulation Comparison

Key Facts for Quick Revision

• India ranks as the 2nd largest fish-producing nation in the world, contributing nearly 8% to global fish production.
• India’s Exclusive Economic Zone extends up to 200 nautical miles from the coastal baseline, covering 2.02 million square km.
• Marine fishing within 12 nautical miles falls under the jurisdiction of Coastal State Governments via State MFRAs under the Seventh Schedule.
• The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana operates with a total financial outlay of ₹20,050 crore.
• The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019, is issued under the authority of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Marine corals, sea cucumbers, dugongs, and whale sharks receive maximum legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund provides interest subvention up to 3% per annum through Nodal Loaning Entities like NABARD and NCDC.
• The annual monsoon fishing ban applies for 61 days along both the East and West coasts of India to support stock regeneration.
• India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve is established in Palk Bay off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
• PM-MKSSY operates with an investment of ₹6,000 crore to formalize micro-enterprises and traditional fish vendors.