News: Recently, a key reform under the new EEZ Rules has been done by introducing digital Access Pass system through the ReALCRaft Portal.
About ReALCRaft Portal
- It is a national online platform which provides web-based and citizen-centric services to marine fishers and coastal States and Union Territories for the registration and licensing of fishing vessels.
- The portal also enables the transfer of ownership and completion of other vessel-related formalities through a simplified digital process.
- Developed by: Department of Fisheries.
- Objective: It has been launched to promote ease of doing business and bring transparency, efficiency, and accountability to the marine fisheries sector.
- The system is designed to be fully digital, transparent, and time-bound, allowing applicants to submit minimal documentation, track the status of their application in real time, and complete the process without visiting any government office.
- Integrated platform: The ReALCRaft Portal is integrated with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Export Inspection Council (EIC) to facilitate the issuance of Fish Catch and Health Certificates.
- This integration supports traceability, sanitary compliance, and eco-labelling, which are essential for exporting seafood to international markets.
- The portal is also linked with the Nabhmitra Application to enhance sea safety and support the use of transponders for vessel tracking and navigation.
- Features:
- Under the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules, 2025, all mechanized and large motorized fishing vessels are required to obtain a free digital Access Pass through the ReALCRaft Portal for operations in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
- Traditional and small-scale fishers, using motorized or non-motorized crafts, are exempted from the requirement of obtaining an Access Pass.
- The portal ensures that foreign fishing vessels are not allowed to obtain Access Passes, thereby protecting the interests of Indian small-scale fishers.
- Fishermen and their vessels are identified using QR-coded Aadhaar Cards or Fisher ID Cards, ensuring proper verification and monitoring at sea. These digital features help marine enforcement agencies, including the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy, in strengthening coastal security and surveillance in the EEZ.
- Currently, about 2.38 lakh fishing vessels across 13 coastal States and Union Territories are registered on the ReALCRaft Portal.
- Around 64,187 mechanized fishing vessels will need to obtain Access Passes for EEZ operations through the ReALCRaft system.
