- Why in news
- On 14 October 2026 the Central Government approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA), upgrading India from a cooperating non-contracting party to a full Contracting Party.
- What it is
- SIOFA is a treaty-based regional fisheries management arrangement for non-tuna fishery resources on the high seas of the southern Indian Ocean. It sets conservation and management rules, backed by a Scientific Committee and a Compliance Committee. It works within the framework of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- India's current status
- India has been a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party to SIOFA since 2022, with limited say in decisions. Accession makes it a full Contracting Party.
- Species covered
- Indian vessels can fish squids, toothfish, alfonsino and other non-migratory stocks within SIOFA's jurisdiction.
- Exclusions
- SIOFA excludes highly migratory species listed in Annex I of UNCLOS and sedentary species under coastal-state jurisdiction (Article 77(4) of UNCLOS).
- Other Indian Ocean RFMO
- India has been a Contracting Party to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) since 1996. The IOTC regulates highly migratory tuna and tuna-like species.
- Enforcement tool
- India will take part in the High Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) Scheme adopted under SIOFA, which also supports efforts against IUU fishing.
Don’t confuse with SIOFA vs IOTC: IOTC manages highly migratory tuna and tuna-like species; SIOFA manages non-tuna stocks such as squid, toothfish and alfonsino. India is a full member of IOTC (since 1996) and is now acceding to SIOFA.
Don’t confuse with Contracting Party vs CNCP: A Contracting Party takes full part in decisions and committees. A Cooperating Non-Contracting Party cooperates but has limited participation.
International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.
Why it matters
- Gives Indian vessels legitimate access to high-seas stocks and new fishing opportunities, advancing the Blue Economy.
- Full seat in the Scientific and Compliance Committees gives access to stock assessments and a say in rules.
- Strengthens India's strategic presence in the Indian Ocean and its role in fight against IUU fishing.
Problems
- Indian vessels mostly operate within 60-80 NM of the EEZ, so deep-sea capacity, technology and finance are limited.
- The high seas are dominated by a few distant-water fleets such as China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Spain, so competition is stiff.
- Sustainability duties, quotas and inspection obligations raise compliance costs and monitoring needs.
Way forward
- Build deep-sea vessel capacity, with finance and training, under the High Seas Fisheries Guidelines of December 2025.
- Invest in scientific and stock-assessment capacity and vessel tracking to meet SIOFA obligations.
- Pursue access agreements in other countries' EEZs and cooperate on IUU enforcement.
Put in your answer
High seas share: High seas are about 65% of the global ocean, dominated by China (21%), Taiwan (13%), Japan (11%), South Korea (11%) and Spain (8%).
Policy step: Guidelines for High Sea Fisheries were issued by the Government of India in December 2025, ahead of SIOFA accession.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.India has been a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) since 2022.
- 2.SIOFA regulates highly migratory tuna species of the Indian Ocean.
- 3.India has been a Contracting Party to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission since 1996.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.India has been a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party to SIOFA since 2022.
True. India has been a CNCP since 2022; accession makes it a Contracting Party.
2.SIOFA regulates highly migratory tuna species in the Indian Ocean.
False. Tuna is regulated by the IOTC; SIOFA excludes highly migratory species of UNCLOS Annex I.
3.India has been a Contracting Party to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission since 1996.
True. India has been an IOTC Contracting Party since 1996.
4.As a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party, India has had full participation in SIOFA's Scientific and Compliance Committees.
False. As a CNCP, India's participation in decision-making and in these committees was limited.
5.The High Seas Boarding and Inspection Scheme is to be implemented under SIOFA.
True. HSBI has been adopted and is set to be implemented under SIOFA.
6.The high seas make up about 65% of the global ocean.
True. The high seas are approximately 65% of the global ocean.
7.The sedentary species covered by SIOFA include those under the fishery jurisdiction of coastal states.
False. Sedentary species under coastal-state jurisdiction (UNCLOS Article 77(4)) are excluded.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Mains practice
10 marks · 150 words
The Union Government has approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA), upgrading India from a cooperating non-Contracting Party to a full Contracting Party. Examine the provisions of SIOFA and discuss its likely impact on India's fisheries, Blue Economy and strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, 14 Oct, 17:18 IST · Release 2323370
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.