India will move from cooperating non-Contracting Party to full accession, allowing authorised Indian-flagged vessels to fish for squid, toothfish and alfonsino on the high seas.

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• The Central Government approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement, known as SIOFA.
• Accession will allow authorised Indian-flagged vessels to fish for stocks such as squids, toothfish and alfonsino in the SIOFA area under agreed rules.
• India has been a cooperating non-Contracting Party of SIOFA since 2022.
• India has renewed that status through applications by its Department of Fisheries, including letters in 2024 and 2025.
• In those applications India committed to carry out the Agreement's objectives and abide by its conservation measures.
• The step is meant to expand high-seas fishing capacity and support the Blue Economy.
• It is also meant to help curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
• Accession will enable India to take part in scientific assessments and in the High Seas Boarding and Inspection scheme.