The Central Government has approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement, a regional framework for fisheries resources in high seas of the southern Indian Ocean. India has participated as a cooperating non-contracting party since 2022 and is now moving toward full membership.
SIOFA covers fish, molluscs, crustaceans and certain other resources in its area, while excluding highly migratory species covered under other arrangements and coastal-state sedentary resources. Accession can support legitimate high-seas fishing opportunities, but those rights come with conservation, monitoring and compliance obligations.
For civil-services preparation, distinguish SIOFA from the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, to which India has been a contracting party since 1996. The development links UNCLOS, regional fisheries management, blue economy interests and sustainable use of marine commons.