Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released 'Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031', a Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries Development, at a Fisheries Outreach Programme in Agatti, Lakshadweep, on 31 August 2026. It was his first visit to the islands. At the event he also distributed assistance to fisheries-sector beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
The programme was organised by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. The Department said it has given special focus to strengthening Fisheries Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) and fisheries cooperatives while sustainably harnessing high-value resources such as tuna, seaweed and ornamental fisheries.
The PMMSY benefits covered support for:
Beneficiaries included the president of the Malsyam Fishermen Cooperative Society Ltd, Androth Island, private entrepreneurs, boat owners and fishermen.
The Vice President described Lakshadweep as a priceless maritime asset, with a 4,200 sq. km lagoon and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of nearly 4 lakh sq. km. Minister of State S. P. Singh Baghel said the islands, though small in land area, account for nearly 17% of India's EEZ. Radhakrishnan put the estimated fisheries potential at over 1 lakh tonnes, including about 94,000 tonnes of tuna and tuna-like species.
Administrator Praful Khoda Patel said that against an estimated annual potential of nearly 1 lakh metric tonnes, especially of Yellowfin and Skipjack tuna, the current harvest is only about 15,000 metric tonnes. He said he was confident Lakshadweep would become a model for fisheries-led Blue Economy development, and he pointed to an upcoming fisheries policy for the Union Territory.
Fisheries projects worth over ₹62 crore have been approved for Lakshadweep under PMMSY. Patel said 16 Deep Sea Fishing Vessels, each costing about ₹1.2 crore, have been sanctioned with full financial assistance and are under construction.
Baghel said Lakshadweep has been notified as a Seaweed Cluster, and a Seaweed Bank has been approved with ICAR-CMFRI. About 575 seaweed cultivation units, backed by an investment of about ₹2 crore, are being promoted for women, youth and self-help groups. Lakshadweep has over 300 ornamental fish species; an ornamental fish hatchery has been set up at Agatti, and three rearing units have been approved under PMMSY. Nineteen recreational fishing units have also been sanctioned. Baghel added that the Government is working towards international sustainability certification and a global 'Lakshadweep Sustainable Tuna' brand.
India has a coastline of about 11,099 km and an EEZ of about 24 lakh sq. km. Marine fisheries potential within the EEZ is estimated at 58.6 lakh MT, supporting about 50 lakh fishers. Most fishing is concentrated within 40-50 nautical miles of the coast, while deeper waters and areas beyond national jurisdiction hold high-value species such as tuna.
The Government has notified a framework for these waters: the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025 and the Guidelines for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas, 2025. Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said the framework includes the launch of the Access Pass and Letter of Authorisation. The Vice President said it would let fishers reach deep-sea resources responsibly. He called for scientific harvesting, digital authorisation, vessel monitoring, international certification and sustainable practices to raise incomes and strengthen India's position in global seafood markets.
The minister said fish production rose from 95.7 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, and seafood exports reached a record ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26. Department of Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi said Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar islands together account for nearly 50% of India's EEZ. He said the Seaweed Bank and Seaweed Cluster notification would create livelihoods. The Government is also strengthening FFPOs and cooperatives through financial, technical and capacity-building support to improve aggregation, value addition, market access and incomes.
With reference to the fisheries potential and current harvest of Lakshadweep, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following pairs:
Item : Description (as given for Lakshadweep)
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Most fishing in India's Exclusive Economic Zone is concentrated within 40-50 nautical miles of the coast.
Statement-II: Deeper waters and areas beyond national jurisdiction hold high-value species such as tuna.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
