Southern Horizons: South Asia in the South Indian Ocean

Abstract

The paper examines facets of the emerging international regulatory structure largely around Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) in the South Indian Ocean sector of the 'Greater Southern Ocean', both north and south of the Antarctic Convergence. In the South Indian Ocean sector, apart from the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources where India is a decision-making and Pakistan a non decision-making party, no South Asian state is a party to any operative RFMOs. Surprisingly, this non-participation includes the South Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement. The paper reflects on the varying conceptions of the 'South Indian Ocean', particularly within Indian strategic discourse. It encourages critical thinking by South Asian social sciences scholars about framings, interests, and South Asian engagement in South Indian Ocean institutional development.