India's 'Blue Port' Pact: A New Era for Sustainable Fishing

In a major step towards advancing India’s maritime and fisheries infrastructure, the Department of Fisheries (DoF) has signed a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

The initiative aims to strengthen the Blue Port Framework, integrating advanced technologies with sustainable practices to address key environmental, social, and economic challenges within the aquatic value chain. Under the FAO-supported TCP on “Strengthening of Blue Ports”, two pilot ports—Vanakbara (Diu) and Jakhau (Gujarat)—will receive strategic and operational tools to identify, assess, and implement viable investment projects.

A comprehensive capacity-building programme will also be launched to engage both public and private stakeholders in promoting sustainable and responsible fishing practices.

Speaking on the initiative, Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary of the Department of Fisheries, highlighted the transformative role of technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and automation in enhancing port efficiency and resource management.

As part of this strategic framework, three pilot harbours—Vanakbara, Karaikal, and Jakhau—are being developed with a total investment of ₹369.8 crore, setting the foundation for a future-ready, sustainable fisheries sector.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.