Odisha cabinet okays new marine fishing law

Bhubaneswar: The state cabinet presided over by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday cleared a proposal to bring in a new law to regulate marine fishing, aiming to strengthen coastal surveillance using technology and curb Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing through stricter enforcement.The fish and animal resources development department placed a memorandum before the cabinet seeking repeal of Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, and enactment of a new Odisha Marine Fishing (Prohibition and Regulation) Bill, 2026. The cabinet okayed memorandum for the Bill.Chief secretary Anu Garg said the existing law is limited in scope and inadequate to address emerging challenges such as marine resource conservation, fishermen’s safety, coastal security, technological advancements and checking unauthorised entry of foreign fishing vessels.The proposed legislation expands its ambit to cover deep-sea fishing and promotion of mariculture activities such as marine cage culture, seaweed farming and artificial reefs for rejuvenating territorial waters. It also envisages modernisation and better management of fishing harbours and fish landing centres along the Odisha coast, with a focus on sustainable livelihoods and employment generation.The Bill places strong emphasis on fishermen’s safety and coastal security.

It mandates use of modern communication and tracking systems such as transponders, VHF radios and vessel tracking and monitoring systems. Provisions like biometric or QR-coded Aadhaar-based identification and enhanced insurance coverage are expected to strengthen surveillance and ensure safety at sea.To curb IUU fishing, the legislation introduces stricter regulation of fishing vessels, fishermen and related activities, including licensing norms, regulation of fishing gear and prohibition of destructive practices.

It also seeks to safeguard the interests of traditional fishers while strengthening monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for sustainable management of marine resources.Aligned with the state’s “Viksit Odisha Vision 2036-47” and Blue Economy initiatives, the proposed law is expected to boost marine fisheries governance and accelerate economic growth. The government has set a target to scale up seafood exports to Rs 25,000 crore by 2036.“The new legislation will ensure sustainable fisheries development while protecting marine ecosystems and improving the livelihood and safety of fishermen,” an official statement said.