Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission launched by V-P Radhakrishnan in Bhubaneswar
Synopsis
Odisha is making a decade-long bet on its coastline. The Deep Sea Fishing Mission — just cleared by the State Cabinet and being launched by Vice-President Radhakrishnan — will push nearly five lakh fishermen from a 12-nautical-mile limit to 200 nautical miles and beyond, with online authorisation certificates and a ten-year horizon to reshape the state's blue economy.
Key Takeaways
Radhakrishnan will formally launch the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission at OUAT, Bhubaneswar on 10 July 2025 .
The mission expands fishermen's operational range from 12 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles , with international waters access for certificate holders.
Nearly five lakh fishermen along Odisha's 575-km coastline are expected to benefit.
Odisha recorded marine fish production of 2.4 lakh metric tonnes in 2024–25 .
The mission runs from 2026 to 2036 and received State Cabinet approval recently.
Authorisation certificates will be distributed to fishermen, NCEL , vessel owners, and cooperative societies via an online process .
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan is set to formally launch the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission in Bhubaneswar on 10 July 2025 at a programme organised by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT). The mission, a flagship initiative of the Odisha government recently cleared by the State Cabinet, aims to transform the state into a leading hub for deep-sea and international fishing operations.
What the Mission Covers
The Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission (2026–2036) will dramatically expand the operational range of Odisha's fishermen. Currently, fishing activities are largely confined to within 12 nautical miles (approximately 23 km) of the coastline. Under the new mission, fishermen will be permitted to operate up to 200 nautical miles (roughly 370 km) offshore. Those holding special authorisation certificates will additionally be eligible to fish in international waters beyond the 200-nautical-mile limit.
The Vice-President will distribute authorisation certificates to individual fishermen, the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), fishing vessel owners, and fisheries cooperative societies during the launch event. The entire authorisation process is being conducted online, which the state government says will ensure transparency, time-bound service delivery, and improved administrative efficiency.
Scale of Odisha's Fishing Sector
Odisha's maritime economy is substantial. Nearly five lakh fishermen living along the state's 575-km-long coastline depend on the Bay of Bengal for their livelihoods. In the 2024–25 financial year, the state recorded marine fish production of approximately 2.4 lakh metric tonnes. The mission is expected to increase fish production, generate new employment, enhance fishermen's incomes, and boost marine product exports.
Centre's Role and Broader Policy Push
The launch aligns with the Central government's broader push to strengthen Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) and fisheries cooperative societies. Extensive steps are also under way to promote digitisation across the fisheries sector. The mission will provide support for advanced fishing equipment, operational management systems, and market linkages — elements that have historically been weak links in India's artisanal fishing ecosystem.
Key Dignitaries Attending
The Bhubaneswar programme will be attended by Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and other senior dignitaries. The high-profile attendance underscores the political significance the Centre and state government are attaching to the blue economy push.
With the mission spanning a ten-year horizon from 2026 to 2036, its success will hinge on consistent policy follow-through, vessel modernisation, and access to international markets — factors that will be closely watched by Odisha's coastal communities in the months ahead.
Point of View
But the real bottleneck for Odisha's fishermen has always been vessel capacity, cold-chain infrastructure, and access to export markets — none of which authorisation certificates alone can fix. The ten-year mission horizon is sensible, but without ring-fenced capital for vessel modernisation and a credible market-linkage plan, the risk is that the certificates outpace the boats. The Centre's parallel push on FFPOs and digitisation is the right structural direction; the question is whether state-level execution can keep pace with the ambition being signalled at the launch event.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission?
The Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission (2026–2036) is a ten-year flagship initiative of the Odisha government, recently approved by the State Cabinet, that aims to expand fishermen's operational range from 12 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles and beyond into international waters. It also provides support for advanced fishing equipment, market linkages, and online authorisation certificates.
Who is launching the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission and where?
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan will formally launch the mission on 10 July 2025 at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar, at a programme organised by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
How will fishermen benefit from the mission?
Fishermen will be able to operate up to 200 nautical miles offshore — compared to the current 12-nautical-mile limit — and those with special authorisation certificates can fish in international waters beyond that. The mission is expected to increase incomes, generate employment, and boost marine product exports for the nearly five lakh fishermen along Odisha's coastline.
What are the authorisation certificates being distributed?
The certificates authorise eligible Indian fishing vessels and fishermen to undertake operations in deep-sea and international waters. They are being issued online to individual fishermen, fishing vessel owners, the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), and fisheries cooperative societies, with the online process designed to ensure transparency and efficiency.
How significant is Odisha's marine fisheries sector?
Odisha has a 575-km-long coastline with nearly five lakh fishermen dependent on the Bay of Bengal. In 2024–25, the state recorded marine fish production of approximately 2.4 lakh metric tonnes, making it a significant contributor to India's coastal economy.
