India to Join Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement, Expanding High‑Seas Fishing

⚡ Key Financial Takeaways

India will gain full membership in SIOFA, enabling participation in scientific and compliance committees.

Indian‑flagged vessels can legally fish for squid, toothfish, alfonsino and other non‑migratory species in the Southern Indian Ocean.

Accession supports India’s Blue‑Economy agenda and helps curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The move follows the 2025 Guidelines for High Sea Fisheries and builds on India’s existing CNCP status since 2022.

💡 Why It Matters

India’s entry into SIOFA will give its fishing fleet access to high‑value marine resources beyond its EEZ, potentially increasing revenue for fishers and supporting the Blue‑Economy agenda. Full participation also enhances India’s influence over high‑seas management and helps curb IUU fishing, safeguarding marine ecosystems.

Why India is Joining SIOFA India’s government has announced its intention to accede to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA). The decision follows the 2025 Guidelines for High Sea Fisheries and aims to broaden the reach of the country’s fishing fleet beyond its traditional 60‑80‑nautical‑mile zone.

What SIOFA Covers SIOFA is a regional framework that manages fish, molluscs, crustaceans and other sedentary species in the high seas. It excludes highly migratory species listed in Annex I of UNCLOS and species under the jurisdiction of coastal states. The agreement is one of two major Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) in the Indian Ocean, the other being the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), to which India has been a contracting party since 1996.

Benefits for Indian Vessels Accession will allow Indian‑flagged fishing vessels to legally harvest species such as squid, toothfish and alfonsino within SIOFA’s jurisdiction. It also grants full access to the Scientific Committee, Compliance Committee, stock assessments and research programmes that were previously limited to Cooperating Non‑Contracting Parties (CNCPs). In short, Indian fishers can now participate fully in decision‑making and data sharing.

Strengthening Sustainable Management With full membership, India will collaborate on scientific research, resource assessments and sustainable harvesting practices. The country will also join SIOFA’s High‑Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) Scheme, a tool designed to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This aligns with India’s broader maritime strategy to protect marine resources while expanding its Blue‑Economy footprint.

Economic and Strategic Implications The high seas account for roughly 65 % of the global ocean. Currently, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Spain dominate fishing activity in these waters. By gaining access to high‑value stocks, India hopes to boost the livelihoods of its fishing communities and diversify its maritime economy. Strategically, the move enhances India’s standing in global fisheries governance and supports coastal security through increased monitoring.

Next Steps The government will need to translate the expanded participation into tangible gains for the domestic fishing sector while ensuring that all harvesting remains authorised and sustainable. The formal accession process, once completed, will open the door for Indian enterprises to negotiate access agreements in other countries’ exclusive economic zones.

Bottom Line India’s accession to SIOFA is a calculated step to broaden high‑seas fishing opportunities, strengthen scientific collaboration, and reinforce its role in global fisheries governance—all under the umbrella of the country’s Blue‑Economy ambitions.

🏛️ Background & Context

India has been a Cooperating Non‑Contracting Party to SIOFA since 2022, which allowed limited decision‑making participation. The 2025 Guidelines for High Sea Fisheries set the stage for expanding the fleet’s operational scope. SIOFA’s jurisdiction covers a significant portion of the high seas, where major fishing powers already operate.

The move complements India’s long‑standing membership in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, reinforcing its commitment to regional fisheries management.

👁️ What To Watch Next

The formal accession process and any subsequent agreements with other countries’ EEZs will be key indicators of how quickly Indian vessels can begin high‑seas operations. Monitoring the implementation of the HSBI Scheme and India’s role in scientific assessments will also reveal the practical impact of this membership.