Supreme Court Directs Tamil Nadu to Process Access Passes for Purse Seine Fishing in EEZ

Case Snapshot

• Case Name: Fisherman Care v. The Government of India Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries & Ors.

• Citation: 2026 INSC 937

• Bench: Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe

• Date of Judgment: September 2, 2026

• Area of Law: Constitutional Law, Fisheries Law, Maritime Zones, Cooperative Federalism

The Judgment in One Line

State must facilitate transit of fishing vessels through territorial waters for purse seine fishing in EEZ as per new rules.

Why This Judgment Matters

This judgment is significant as it resolves the long-standing conflict between the State of Tamil Nadu's ban on purse seine nets and the rights of fishermen to fish in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Supreme Court held that while the State can regulate fishing within territorial waters, it cannot prevent fishermen from transiting through those waters to reach the EEZ. The Court also directed the State to process pending Access Pass applications expeditiousl y, noting that 226 out of 257 applications were pending verification. The judgment emphasizes cooperative federalism, requiring both the Union and State to work together to implement the newly framed EEZ Rules, 2025.

... Upgrade to a Premium Plan to view the full judgment.