- Why in news
- On 24 March 2026, the Fisheries Ministry told the Lok Sabha how inter-state fishing disputes, such as Andhra Pradesh's complaints about Tamil Nadu and Puducherry vessels, are handled through three Regional Fisheries Management Councils.
- What it is
- Regional Fisheries Management Councils (RFMCs) are platforms set up by the Union Department of Fisheries. They bring coastal States and UTs together to settle inter-state marine fishing disputes. They are administrative forums, not statutory bodies, and work within the split of fisheries powers between States and the Union.
- Constitution of RFMCs
- The Department of Fisheries created three RFMCs, Western, Eastern and Southern, by an order of 29 March 2023, on the advice of the Inter-State Council.
- Purpose
- RFMCs let States and UTs resolve inter-state fishing disputes together and ensure fair access to marine resources.
- Coast Guard role
- The Indian Coast Guard is represented in all three RFMCs.
- Territorial waters jurisdiction
- Coastal States and UTs regulate fishing up to 12 nautical miles under Entry 21 of the State List.
- EEZ jurisdiction
- The Union regulates fishing in the EEZ beyond 12 nautical miles under Entry 57 of the Union List.
- Southern RFMC follow-up
- After Andhra Pradesh raised concerns at the Southern RFMC meeting of 19 August 2023, Tamil Nadu formed a District-Level Committee by an order of 31 January 2024.
Don’t confuse with Inter-State Council vs RFMCs: The Inter-State Council is a constitutional body under Article 263 that advises on Centre-State and inter-State issues. RFMCs are administrative fisheries forums set up on its advice.
Don’t confuse with Territorial waters vs EEZ: Territorial waters extend to 12 nautical miles and fishing there is regulated by States/UTs. The EEZ lies beyond that and is regulated by the Union.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- RFMCs give a cooperative federal forum to settle disputes between coastal States over a shared resource.
- They can protect traditional fishers' livelihoods and support sustainable fishing.
Problems
- RFMCs are advisory platforms and may lack binding power to enforce decisions on States.
- Enforcement depends on separate State Marine Fishing Regulation Acts, which differ and can be weak against IUU fishing.
Way forward
- Align State Marine Fishing Regulation Acts and strengthen penalties against illegal fishing.
- Use district-level committees, evidence sharing and Coast Guard support to resolve disputes early.
Put in your answer
Inter-State coordination example: A district-level committee covering districts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh was set up to sensitise fishermen and settle disputes.
State law reform: Andhra Pradesh is seeking amendments to its 1994 Marine Fishing Regulation Act to tighten action on IUU fishing.
- 2013Mains GS2 · Q6Whether inter-state water dispute mechanisms fail due to structural or process inadequacy
- 2026Mains GS2 · Q13How far Indian federalism accommodates diversity; asymmetric federalism and dispute resolution mechanisms
- 2024Mains GS2 · Q13Recent Centre-State relations changes and measures to build trust and federalism
- 2022Prelims Q85Coastal state rights over territorial sea, innocent passage, and EEZ limits under UNCLOS
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting topic: territorial waters under State List Entry 21, EEZ under Union List Entry 57, three RFMCs set up in 2023. Few facts for a Prelims question.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.