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India approves accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement
खबर में क्यों?
India joins SIOFA, but which fish does it exclude? The IOTC contrast for Prelims
The Central Government has approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA).
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 मिनट
The Central Government has approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA).
The agreement provides a regional framework for managing fishery resources on the high seas of the southern Indian Ocean.
स्रोत: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
मुख्य तथ्य
Remember these
- The Union Government has approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA).
- SIOFA is a regional framework for managing fishery resources on the high seas of the southern Indian Ocean.
- It covers fishery resources other than tuna; tuna is managed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
- The agreement was concluded in 2006 and entered into force in 2012.
- High seas are waters beyond national jurisdiction, i.e. beyond the 200 nautical mile EEZ.
प्रीलिम्स · मेन्स
How the exam will ask it
प्रीलिम्स
- SIOFA provides for long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources in the high seas of the southern Indian Ocean.
- SIOFA covers fishery resources other than tuna; tuna in the Indian Ocean is managed by a separate body, the IOTC.
- Areas beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone fall under the high seas regime of UNCLOS, where states cooperate through regional fisheries bodies.
मेन्स
GS-II (international agreements) and GS-III (marine resources, Blue Economy). Rising pressure on high-seas stocks and the need for regional management pushed India to join SIOFA, which gives it a voice in setting conservation measures and access to data and fishing opportunities beyond its EEZ. The way forward is to align accession with Deep Ocean Mission and Blue Economy goals, build monitoring and compliance capacity, and ensure sustainable fishing by Indian fleets.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
The Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA), to which India has approved accession, provides a framework for managing fisheries in:
- Territorial waters of the Bay of Bengal littoral states
- The Arabian Sea Exclusive Economic Zones of India and Oman
- The Antarctic waters south of 60° S
- The high seas of the southern Indian Ocean
उत्तर देखें
उत्तर: D — The correct answer is The high seas of the southern Indian Ocean. SIOFA is a regional arrangement for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources, other than tuna, in the high seas of the southern Indian Ocean.
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