Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources

On 20th August 2026, Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), released the comprehensive “National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources of the Indian EEZ.”

Key Points

Mesopelagic Zone: The report assesses the “twilight zone” between 200 and 1,000 metres depth across India's 2.37 million square kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Marine Resources: It covers lanternfishes, deep-sea shrimps, cephalopods and other mesopelagic species.
Carbon Cycle: Vertical migration of mesopelagic species contributes to the ocean’s biological carbon pump.
Demersal Resources: Deep-sea resources include shrimps, perches, scombroids, flatfishes and eels.
Distant-Water Species: The report covers tunas, billfishes, sharks, oceanic squids and Antarctic krill.