Goa Maritime conclave 2026 kicks off to tackle drug trafficking and illegal fishing

The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh Tripathi , on Saturday inaugurated the Goa Maritime Conclave 2026 , a high-level regional forum bringing together delegates from 14 Indian Ocean nations to address mounting maritime security challenges such as drug trafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing .

The conclave is being held on the theme “Common maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region – progressing lines of effort to mitigate dynamic threats.” It aims to strengthen cooperation among navies and maritime agencies in tackling transnational threats that affect regional stability and economic security.

Senior naval officers and strategic experts attended the inaugural session, including Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, and former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash , who delivered the keynote address.

The event comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over illegal fishing networks, maritime crime and narcotics smuggling , which have emerged as major non-traditional security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). These activities, officials said, undermine coastal economies and threaten safe sea lanes of communication.

Delegations from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Comoros, Malaysia, Kenya, Singapore, Madagascar, Thailand, Myanmar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania are participating in the conclave, underscoring the importance of multinational coordination in safeguarding shared maritime spaces.

In his keynote address, Admiral Arun Prakash emphasised the need for stronger operational coordination and sustained regional synergy to counter evolving threats.

“We need to consider the establishment of an Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Task Force that can pool resources and enable real-time intelligence sharing in the future,” he said.

Session 2 of the conclave focused on enhancing capacity building and capability development among maritime agencies across the Indian Ocean Region. Moderated by Adm KB Singh (Retd), former CNS, the session featured RAdm Srinivas Maddula and Capt Ranendra S Sawan as speakers. Discussions highlighted the importance of pooling training resources, institutionalising training frameworks, and fostering collaborative initiatives to improve inter-operability and strengthen long-term regional maritime resilience.

Officials noted that the conclave will also focus on developing practical mechanisms for cooperation , improving information-sharing frameworks, and exploring joint strategies to counter emerging maritime threats that transcend national boundaries.

The Goa Maritime Conclave has grown into a key regional platform for maritime security dialogue, reflecting India’s commitment to promoting collective security and stability across the Indian Ocean Region.