Odisha Repeals 1982 Marine Fishing Act for a Modern Blue Economy Boost

The state cabinet officially moved to scrap the outdated 47-year-old Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, substituting it with the forward-looking Odisha Marine Fishing (Prohibition and Regulation) Legislation, 2026. Strategically aligned with the Viksit Odisha Vision 2036–2047, this new legal framework introduces stringent coastal security setups. It mandates biometric/QR-coded Aadhaar verification for fishermen and forces the usage of high-tech Vessel Tracking Systems (VTMS). Economically, the bill expands state jurisdiction to promote seaweed farming, cage culture, and deep-sea eco-missions, targeting an ambitious ₹25,000 crore seafood export milestone by 2036.