By: Khushbu Ahlawat, Consulting Editor, GSDN
Introduction
The Indian Ocean has long been a central artery of global trade, strategic competition, and maritime connectivity. Stretching across one-fifth of the world’s ocean surface and connecting the economies of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) remains one of the most geopolitically significant maritime spaces in the twenty-first century. Traditionally, discussions surrounding maritime security in the region have focused on threats such as piracy, maritime terrorism, arms trafficking, and strategic rivalries among major powers. However, a quieter but equally consequential challenge has been steadily emerging: Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
IUU fishing represents one of the most pressing non-traditional security threats confronting the Indian Ocean today. While often perceived primarily as an environmental or economic issue, its implications extend far beyond marine conservation. It undermines the livelihoods of millions of coastal communities, erodes national economic resources, and increasingly intersects with transnational criminal networks. In the context of the Indian Ocean—home to some of the world’s most productive fishing grounds—these impacts are particularly profound.
For India, the stakes are especially high. With a coastline spanning more than 7,500 kilometers and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering approximately 2.37 million square kilometers, the country’s economic and food security is closely tied to the sustainability of marine resources. Millions of Indians rely directly or indirectly on fisheries for their livelihoods, while fish remains a crucial source of protein for large segments of the population. Yet the increasing presence of foreign fishing fleets, weak regulatory mechanisms in international waters, and technological asymmetries in maritime monitoring have made it increasingly difficult to control illegal fishing activities.
In recent years, India has begun to recognize that addressing IUU fishing is not only about protecting fish stocks but also about safeguarding maritime sovereignty, economic stability, and regional security. As a result, the issue has gradually become integrated into India’s broader maritime strategy, including initiatives related to maritime domain awareness, regional cooperation, and the Blue Economy. Understanding the scope of the challenge and India’s evolving response requires examining the historical evolution of IUU fishing, its contemporary dynamics in the Indian Ocean, and the strategic opportunities it presents for regional cooperation.
Historical Evolution and Global Context of IUU Fishing
The problem of illegal fishing is not new. For centuries, maritime resources were exploited with minimal oversight, as the oceans were largely treated as open-access spaces. However, the scale and intensity of fishing activities increased dramatically during the twentieth century with advances in industrial fishing technologies, including larger trawlers, satellite navigation, sonar fish-finding systems, and refrigerated storage vessels. These developments allowed fishing fleets to travel farther, remain at sea longer, and harvest fish stocks at unprecedented levels. The international community began addressing the issue of maritime resource management during the mid-twentieth century. A major turning point occurred with the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982, which established the concept of Exclusive Economic Zones. Under UNCLOS, coastal states were granted sovereign rights over marine resources within 200 nautical miles of their coastlines. This framework was intended to enable countries to manage fisheries more effectively and prevent overexploitation by foreign fleets. Despite these legal provisions, enforcement challenges soon became evident. Many developing coastal states lacked the surveillance capacity required to monitor large maritime areas. Moreover, fishing fleets began exploiting gaps in international governance, including poorly regulated high seas and inconsistent enforcement by flag states. These weaknesses created fertile ground for the emergence of IUU fishing. In response, international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) developed frameworks to define and address IUU fishing. According to the FAO, IUU fishing encompasses three primary activities: fishing conducted without authorization within a state’s jurisdiction, fishing activities that are not properly reported or misreported to authorities, and fishing that occurs in areas where regulatory frameworks are either weak or nonexistent.
Over time, the scale of IUU fishing expanded into a global challenge. Studies estimate that illegal fishing accounts for up to 20 percent of the world’s total fish catch annually, representing billions of dollars in economic losses. Beyond the economic impact, the ecological consequences are equally severe, as unregulated harvesting contributes to the depletion of fish stocks and the degradation of marine ecosystems.
Ecological, Economic, and Security Implications in the Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is one of the most biologically diverse marine regions in the world. Its waters host a wide variety of commercially valuable species, including tuna, mackerel, shrimp, and numerous reef fish. The Western Indian Ocean alone contributes nearly five percent of the global fish catch, making it an essential resource for both regional economies and global seafood markets. However, this ecological richness also makes the region particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Estimates suggest that between 16 and 34 percent of the total fish catch in the Indian Ocean may be attributed to illegal or unreported fishing activities. Such levels of exploitation place enormous strain on marine ecosystems and threaten the long-term sustainability of fish stocks.
For India, the implications are multifaceted. Marine fisheries support the livelihoods of over 28 million people, including fishermen, fish processors, traders, and related service providers. Many coastal communities depend almost entirely on fishing for their economic survival. When illegal fishing fleets deplete fish stocks or encroach upon traditional fishing grounds, local fishermen often face declining catches and rising economic insecurity. The economic losses associated with IUU fishing extend beyond the fishing industry itself. Reduced fish stocks can disrupt supply chains, increase food prices, and weaken export revenues. In countries where fisheries constitute a significant component of national economies, these impacts can undermine broader development goals.
Furthermore, IUU fishing increasingly intersects with maritime security concerns. Vessels engaged in illegal fishing often operate in remote maritime zones where regulatory oversight is limited. In some cases, these vessels are linked to other forms of transnational crime, including drug trafficking, human smuggling, and arms transportation. Such activities blur the boundaries between environmental crime and organized criminal networks, complicating enforcement efforts.
Another emerging concern is the use of fishing fleets as instruments of geopolitical influence. Large distant-water fleets from major powers can establish a persistent presence in foreign waters, enabling countries to project influence and gather maritime intelligence. This phenomenon has raised concerns about the strategic implications of fishing activities in contested or sensitive maritime regions.
India’s Policy Response and Maritime Security Framework
Recognizing the growing severity of the problem, India has undertaken several measures to strengthen its response to IUU fishing. These initiatives span domestic policy reforms, technological advancements in maritime surveillance, and enhanced regional cooperation.
One of the foundational elements of India’s strategy is the National Policy on Marine Fisheries (2017), which emphasizes sustainable fisheries management and improved monitoring of fishing activities. The policy aims to balance economic development with environmental conservation, recognizing that long-term prosperity depends on the sustainable use of marine resources.
Institutionally, enforcement responsibilities fall primarily on the Indian Coast Guard, which has been authorized under relevant maritime legislation to take action against illegal fishing activities within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The Coast Guard conducts patrols, monitors suspicious vessels, and coordinates with other maritime agencies to enforce fishing regulations.
Technological advancements have also played an important role in strengthening India’s maritime monitoring capabilities. The establishment of the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in 2018 marked a significant step toward improving maritime domain awareness. Hosted by the Indian Navy, the centre facilitates real-time information sharing among partner countries, enabling the identification and tracking of suspicious vessels.
India has also integrated IUU fishing concerns into its broader maritime diplomacy initiatives. The country’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) emphasizes cooperative approaches to maritime security and sustainable resource management. Through this framework, India seeks to enhance capacity-building efforts among smaller Indian Ocean states that often lack the resources required for effective maritime surveillance.
At the regional level, India has actively raised the issue of illegal fishing within forums such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Dialogues on IUU fishing held in Goa in 2022 and 2024 highlighted the need for greater information sharing, coordinated enforcement mechanisms, and stronger regional governance structures.
Additionally, government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aim to modernize India’s fisheries sector by promoting vessel tracking systems, digital registration platforms, and improved communication networks for fishermen. These measures not only enhance regulatory oversight but also improve the safety and productivity of the fishing community.
Strategic Challenges and the Way Forward
Despite these efforts, several challenges continue to hinder the effective management of IUU fishing in the Indian Ocean. One of the most significant concerns is the growing presence of distant-water fishing fleets from extra-regional powers. Among these, China’s distant-water fleet is widely regarded as the largest in the world, with hundreds of vessels operating across multiple oceans. Reports indicate that Chinese fishing vessels have increasingly expanded their activities in the Indian Ocean over the past decade. In some instances, these vessels have been accused of operating within the Exclusive Economic Zones of coastal states without proper authorization. Such incidents highlight the limitations of existing governance frameworks and underscore the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
Another challenge lies in the fragmented nature of regional fisheries governance. Organizations such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) play important roles in regulating certain species and maritime zones. However, significant gaps remain in terms of both geographic coverage and species management, allowing illegal operators to exploit regulatory loopholes.
Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive and cooperative approach. India can play a leading role in strengthening regional governance frameworks by promoting greater coordination among regional fisheries management organizations. Expanding data-sharing agreements and joint patrols among Indian Ocean states would also enhance collective monitoring capabilities. Technological innovation offers additional opportunities. Satellite-based monitoring systems, artificial intelligence for vessel tracking, and automated identification systems can significantly improve the detection of suspicious fishing activities. By investing in these technologies and sharing capabilities with partner states, India can contribute to building a more resilient regional surveillance network. Equally important is the need to support coastal communities whose livelihoods depend on fisheries. Sustainable fisheries management must incorporate social and economic considerations, ensuring that local fishermen are not disadvantaged by conservation measures. Programs that provide alternative livelihoods, training, and financial support can help mitigate the economic impacts of stricter fishing regulations.
Ultimately, addressing IUU fishing is not merely an environmental or economic issue—it is a strategic imperative. By framing the challenge within the broader context of maritime security and regional stability, India can mobilize greater political and institutional support for coordinated action.
Conclusion
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing has emerged as one of the most complex maritime challenges of the twenty-first century. In the Indian Ocean Region, where millions of people depend on marine resources for their livelihoods, the consequences of unchecked illegal fishing are particularly severe. The depletion of fish stocks, economic losses for coastal communities, and the growing intersection between illegal fishing and transnational crime all underscore the urgency of addressing the issue.
For India, the challenge is closely tied to its broader maritime aspirations. As a major regional power with extensive coastlines and a rapidly expanding maritime economy, the country has a strong interest in ensuring the sustainability and security of the Indian Ocean’s resources. Over the past decade, India has taken significant steps to strengthen its policy framework, enhance maritime surveillance capabilities, and promote regional cooperation against IUU fishing. Yet the evolving nature of the threat requires sustained attention and innovative approaches. Strengthening regional governance, leveraging advanced monitoring technologies, and fostering strategic partnerships will be critical components of an effective response. At the same time, ensuring that local fishing communities remain central to policy frameworks will help maintain the social and economic foundations of maritime sustainability.
As the geopolitical significance of the Indian Ocean continues to grow, safeguarding its marine resources will become increasingly important for regional stability and economic prosperity. By positioning the fight against IUU fishing at the core of its maritime strategy, India has the opportunity not only to protect its own interests but also to shape a more cooperative and sustainable maritime order in the Indian Ocean.
About the Author
Khushbu Ahlawat is a research analyst with a strong academic background in International Relations and Political Science. She has undertaken research projects at Jawaharlal Nehru University, contributing to analytical work on international and regional security issues. Alongside her research experience, she has professional exposure to Human Resources, with involvement in talent acquisition and organizational operations. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Christ University, Bangalore, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Delhi.
