India, Seychelles agree to deepen cooperation in fisheries and blue economy

India and Seychelles on Wednesday agreed to deepen cooperation in fisheries and the broader blue economy, with a focus on sustainable marine resource management, aquaculture, scientific research, technology and capacity-building across the Indian Ocean Region.

The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D), held discussions with Seychelles to review existing arrangements, identify new areas of mutual interest and draw up a joint roadmap for the sustainable use of marine resources.

According to a statement released by the Ministry, the Seychelles delegation was led by H.E. Wallace Cosgrow, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy, while the Indian delegation was led by Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries.


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The two delegations recognised fisheries and the broader blue economy as critical pillars for driving economic growth, generating rural employment and fostering sustainable development.

The Ministry noted that the Indian delegation underscored the maritime partnership between the two nations and reiterated its commitment to expanding technical cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture, advanced scientific research and capacity-building.

According to the statement, India highlighted that national fish production had reached 19.7 million tonnes, while seafood exports were valued at USD 8.46 billion. The delegation also outlined ongoing initiatives in sustainable fisheries management, responsible harvesting practices and technology-driven infrastructure development.

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Both delegations emphasised the need for cooperation to promote socio-economic stability and strengthen food and nutritional security across the Indian Ocean Region.

The meeting’s agenda covered several technical areas for potential joint development, including marine aquaculture, or mariculture, modern hatchery establishment, tuna fisheries optimisation, stock assessment, advanced post-harvest engineering and marine conservation.

The delegations also explored immediate opportunities for knowledge transfer through targeted technical studies, structured fisheries extension services and formal institutional training programmes.

The two countries stressed the need to accelerate innovation and digital transformation in the sector. They explored potential partnerships in fisheries data systems, monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) infrastructure, as well as the deployment of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in harvest management.

The Ministry also said the meeting focused on value-chain development, particularly in tuna processing, product diversification and sustainable fish-waste management.

To ensure long-term and systemic progress, the delegations agreed on the need for a structured annual work plan, regulatory alignment, faster commercialisation of joint scientific research, reciprocal laboratory access and the collaborative design of pilot projects.

The Seychelles delegation expressed keen interest in expediting a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) on fisheries and aquaculture, supported by an advanced work plan. It also stressed the need to establish institutionalised engagement frameworks to facilitate continuous communication among administrative bodies, academic researchers and technical experts from both countries.

The statement highlighted that both sides emphasised the importance of mutual exposure visits, specialised technical exchanges and greater collaboration between national Centres of Excellence. These initiatives are expected to help build institutional capacity and promote international best practices.

According to the Ministry, the high-level meeting concluded on a constructive note, with India and Seychelles reaffirming their commitment to translating their diplomatic engagements into long-term maritime prosperity.