India–Maldives Sign Fisheries Pact to Boost Sustainability and Trade

Marking a major leap forward in regional cooperation for sustainable blue economy development, India and the Maldives signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Fisheries and Aquaculture during Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s State visit to the island nation on July 25, 2025. The MoU was inked between India’s Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources of the Maldives.

This fisheries MoU was among six strategic bilateral agreements exchanged during the high-level visit, underscoring the commitment of both nations to deepen their multifaceted partnership. At its core, the fisheries pact is designed to promote mutual growth, resilience, and innovation within the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, while upholding principles of environmental sustainability, scientific cooperation, and socio-economic inclusiveness.

Strategic Objectives: A Holistic Marine Partnership

The agreement outlines a broad framework for collaboration across the entire fisheries value chain, covering harvest to post-harvest processing, marketing, infrastructure development, and scientific advancement. Key strategic areas include:

• Sustainable Tuna and Deep-Sea Fisheries: Joint initiatives to enhance the management of shared tuna resources in the Indian Ocean region through scientific monitoring, traceability systems, and ecosystem-friendly harvesting methods.

• Aquaculture Development: Focused support to expand mariculture and inland aquaculture in the Maldives, including hatchery development, species diversification, and best practices in biosecurity and animal health.

• Value Chain Enhancement: Improving fish processing infrastructure through cold storage expansion, advanced refrigeration systems, and capacity building in marine and mechanical engineering.

• Fisheries-based Eco-Tourism: Promoting community-led eco-tourism projects to generate alternative livelihoods in coastal areas while ensuring minimal ecological disruption.

• Capacity Building and Skill Development: Launch of bilateral training programs, workshops, and knowledge exchange missions, targeting a broad range of technical fields such as aquatic animal health, refrigeration technology, marine navigation, and fisheries engineering.

Strengthening Trade and Resilience in the Blue Economy

The MoU is a timely intervention as both countries work to diversify and future-proof their marine economies. For the Maldives—a country heavily reliant on fisheries for food security, employment, and exports—the partnership presents an opportunity to:

• Upgrade processing standards to meet global market requirements

• Access technical expertise from India in cold-chain logistics and hatchery science

• Strengthen trade facilitation mechanisms for bilateral and international seafood trade

For India, the agreement advances the goals of the Blue Economy Policy Framework, encouraging regional cooperation, scientific diplomacy, and sustainable resource utilization in the Indian Ocean region.

Environmental and Scientific Focus

The MoU prioritizes environmentally responsible practices, including:

• Promotion of science-based fisheries management

• Adoption of marine spatial planning tools to prevent overfishing and habitat degradation

• Collaboration on climate-resilient aquaculture systems that can withstand rising sea temperatures and extreme weather events

• Joint monitoring of fish stocks, especially migratory pelagic species such as tuna, which are critical to both countries' economic and ecological stability

Regional Impact and Geostrategic Significance

This fisheries agreement is not just a bilateral initiative—it is a step toward greater regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean Rim. India and Maldives are both founding members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and their strengthened cooperation in fisheries can serve as a model for regional blue economy partnerships.

The MoU also aligns with India’s broader outreach to neighboring island nations under the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) doctrine. It complements ongoing collaborations in maritime security, disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, and ocean governance.

Outlook: A Shared Vision for a Resilient Marine Future

By forging this dynamic fisheries partnership, India and Maldives have laid the foundation for a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-driven marine sector. It reflects the leadership of both nations in addressing shared maritime challenges through cooperation, knowledge sharing, and a science-led approach to development.

As implementation begins, stakeholders across government, academia, and industry will play a crucial role in ensuring the success and scalability of joint initiatives. For fisherfolk, aquaculture entrepreneurs, scientists, and policymakers, this MoU opens new doors to shared prosperity and long-term food and livelihood security.