Centre approves India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement

16 October 2026

The Central Government has approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA). India has been a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party since 2022, with a limited say in the Scientific Committee and the Compliance Committee; as a Contracting Party it gains full participation and access to stock assessments. Indian-flagged vessels will be able to carry out authorised fishing of squid, toothfish, alfonsino and other non-migratory stocks in the SIOFA area. India will also take part in the High Seas Boarding and Inspection Scheme adopted by SIOFA. The release notes that the high seas make up about 65% of the global ocean and that Indian fishing vessels at present operate mostly within 60-80 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone.