National Report on Deep-Sea Fishery Resources of the Indian EEZ
Why in the news
As CMLRE turned 25, the Ministry of Earth Sciences issued a national assessment of living resources found deep and far offshore.
Key facts
- An EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles; the coastal state holds exclusive rights over fish, minerals and energy, though others keep navigation freedom.
- India’s EEZ: 2.37 million sq km.
- Waters studied: Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Lakshadweep, Andaman Sea and the Southern Ocean.
Findings
- Twilight Zone (200-1,000 m): lanternfish, shrimps and squid-like animals feed near the surface at night and descend by day.
- Beyond 200 m: large, under-used stocks of shrimps, fish, flatfish and eels.
- Also covered: tuna, billfish, sharks, squid, Antarctic krill.
- Biodiversity hotspots: Kollam Bank, Angria Bank, Mangalore Deep-Sea Slope, Trivandrum Terrace, Lakshadweep, Andaman-Nicobar.
- Tools: underwater acoustics, eDNA, satellites, AI, automated observation.
Mapping breeding and habitat areas lets fishing continue where suitable while marine life stays protected.
Exam angle
- Silver Jubilee body: CMLRE.
- EEZ limit: 200 nautical miles; area 2.37 million sq km.