Supreme Court directs Tamil Nadu to facilitate purse seine fishing transit

The Supreme Court of India has directed the state of Tamil Nadu to facilitate the transit of purse seine fishing vessels through its territorial waters to reach the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

In its ruling, a Division Bench emphasized the principle of “cooperative federalism,” noting that the Union and State regulatory regimes operate in distinct, autonomous spheres. The Court clarified that the Union government is competent to regulate fisheries beyond territorial waters, while the State maintains authority within them.

The Court observed that delays in processing access pass applications had effectively created an “unwritten ban” on fishing activities. Consequently, the State has been ordered to ensure timely clearance of applications and to establish necessary regulations, including the designation of specific channels for fishing vessels to transit through territorial waters to the EEZ.