India, Aug. 12 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The fisheries up to 12 nautical miles from baseline is governed by the coastal States in accordance with their Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs). Under the respective MFRAs, many coastal States/UTs have reserved fishing zones for different categories of fishing vessels. Near-shore coastal waters, generally up to 5 to 10 kilometers from the shore, are exclusively reserved for artisanal and non-mechanized traditional fishing vessels, which protects traditional livelihoods, minimizes gear conflicts, and prevents resource overexploitation. Joint patrolling is conducted by State Fisheries Departments along with enforcement agencies, including the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), to p...