Infrastructure gaps loom large as Kerala fishermen prepare to venture into international waters

With the Union government issuing official Letters of Authorisation (LoA), Indian fishing vessels can now venture into high seas and harvest untapped marine resources. While the initiative addresses a long-standing imbalance in the domestic fisheries sector, where the country’s massive annual marine potential remains largely unexploited in deeper zones, it also shifts ocean harvesting into a strictly regulated system. By setting up an online application process for vessels meeting specific technical criteria, the guidelines mandate strict adherence to international maritime rules, catch limits, bycatch mitigation strategies, and measures against illegal and unregulated fishing.