MPEDA to host second National Seafood Skill Olympiad from July 1
New Delhi, June 29
With the aim of increasing seafood exports, the Marine Products Export Development Authority, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is set to organise the second edition of the National Seafood Skill Olympiad from July 1 to 3, 2026.
India ranks first in shrimp exports and fifth among the world's seafood-exporting nations, after China, Norway, Ecuador and Vietnam.
The country is steadily expanding the production and export of value-added seafood products.
The Olympiad will be part of Seafood Expo Bharat (SEB) 2026 and will bring together skilled professionals from across the country to showcase their expertise in preparing value-added seafood products.
MPEDA had earlier conducted 50 seafood value-addition training programmes as a precursor to the Olympiad.
More than 2,500 seafood processing workers and professionals were trained in the preparation of value-added marine products that are in high demand in international markets.
The training covered products such as breaded squid rings, Nobashi (stretched shrimp), breaded butterfly shrimp, cooked Peeled, Deveined, Tail-On (PDTO) shrimp, marinated shrimp skewers and fish fillets.
Preliminary-level skill competitions were conducted following each training programme, and the best performers were shortlisted.
State-level Olympiads were then conducted across the coastal states, followed by regional competitions.
These were held in Mumbai for the West Coast and Vijayawada for the East Coast.
The top 10 performers from these regional competitions have qualified for the National Seafood Skill Olympiad grand finale.
The finalists will demonstrate their technical expertise during the grand finale before an eminent jury comprising experts from the seafood processing industry and academia.
The winners will be presented with medals, certificates and cash prizes of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 75,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000.
The Olympiad reflects the organisation's commitment to fostering excellence across the seafood value chain, MPEDA Chairman P. Jawahar said.
By recognising and promoting skilled professionals, the initiative is strengthening the industry's workforce and further enhancing India's position as a trusted global supplier of high-quality seafood, he said.
Nearly 5,000 domestic and international stakeholders are expected to participate in high-level business-to-business meetings, engage with stakeholders across retail and aquaculture value chains, and attend five parallel technical sessions focusing on innovation, sustainability and emerging industry trends during the three-day event in Mumbai.
India's seafood exports reached a record USD 8.45 billion during FY2025-26, reaffirming the country's position as one of the world's leading seafood-exporting nations.
The country now has 670 approved seafood processing units with a combined processing capacity exceeding 40,000 metric tonnes per day.
Of these, 127 units produce value-added seafood products, contributing nearly 10 per cent of India's total seafood exports.
The government has recognised the significant growth potential of the value-added seafood segment and set an ambitious target of increasing the share of value-added products to 25 per cent of total seafood exports by 2030.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Impressive numbers - $8.45 billion in exports! But I wonder if the environmental sustainability of this growth is being addressed. Shrimp farming has often been linked to mangrove destruction in parts of India. Hope these skill Olympiads also include training on sustainable practices, not just processing techniques.
Very proud moment! I've seen how our local seafood processing units in Kerala have transformed. This Olympiad will not only boost exports but also create more jobs, especially for women in coastal areas. The cash prizes are good but I hope the government also provides soft loans to winners to start their own ventures. That would be real empowerment! 🐟
Good step, but I feel the government is focussing too much on exports while domestic seafood consumption in India is also growing. Why not have similar programmes to promote seafood consumption within India? Our per capita fish consumption is still low compared to global averages. Let's not forget our own people while chasing export targets.
This is fantastic! I attended a similar training in Mumbai last year - it's very practical. The breaded squid rings and Nobashi shrimp we learned to make are exactly what international buyers want. More women should participate in these Olympiads. The industry needs more skilled female workers. Kudos to MPEDA for this initiative! 👏
The target of 25% value-added exports by 2030 is ambitious but achievable. Currently it's only 10% which shows huge room for growth. However, I'm concerned about the cost of certification and compliance required for international markets. Many small processors in Andhra and Gujarat
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.