What technologies is CIFT developing to improve the safety of fishers at sea, particularly for small-scale fishermen who may have not access to sophisticated safety equipment?

CIFT gives importance to the stability and safety of fishing vessels while designing boats and providing consultancy for boat construction. Designs follow relevant MMD, IRS and DG Shipping requirements, with provisions like bilge pumps, emergency lighting and fire-safety arrangements. It also promotes the use of GPS, AIS and distress-alert systems for communication and vessel tracking.

Many existing deep-sea fishing vessels do not have approved designs or stability booklets. CIFT has developed designs for deep-sea fishing vessels under the Blue Revolution and PMMSY schemes to meet safety requirements and are suitable for deep-sea fishing operations.

CIFT also works with the Department of Fisheries to promote vessel safety and responsible fishing practices. Our overall focus is on promoting practical and accessible safety technologies and practices, particularly for small-scale fishers. We also provide training in these aspects to all stakeholders.

How is CIFT helping the industry move beyond traditional fish marketing by developing innovative, consumer friendly and commercially viable seafood products? 

CIFT has been working to move the fisheries sector beyond the traditional sale of fresh fish by developing convenient, safe and value-added seafood products suited to changing consumer preferences. Our technologies cover ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products, thermal processing, drying, smoking, freezing, packaging and shelf-life enhancement, along with value-added products from low-value fish and processing by-products. We also focus on product standardisation, food safety, quality assurance and commercial-scale production.

Through technology transfer, incubation, training and pilot-scale facilities, CIFT helps entrepreneurs and seafood industries adopt these technologies and convert them into market-ready products. The overall aim is to increase value realisation, reduce losses, diversify product options and create new business opportunities in the fisheries sector.

: What opportunities does CIFT’s Agri-Business Incubation Centre provide to aspiring entrepreneurs?

The Centre helps entrepreneurs and startups convert innovative ideas into commercially viable products and enterprises. Entrepreneurs receive support in technology selection, product development, testing, packaging, shelf-life evaluation, scale-up, food safety and regulatory requirements. The Centre’s semi-commercial production facilities also allow them to conduct trials and produce pilot batches before investing in their own production units, thereby reducing technical and financial risk.

Through incubation, technology transfer, consultancy, mentoring and collaborative research, CIFT supports entrepreneurs from idea validation to commercialisation and helps build successful fisheries-based enterprises. CIFT also hosts a Fisheries Incubation Centre supported under the PMMSY scheme, which has provision for offering financial assistance to entrepreneurs.

What practical technology can offer as a safe alternative to keep fish fresh for longer life, ensuring that it remains free from chemical contamination?

As per FSSR 2011, no chemicals are permitted as preservatives in fish except good quality ice prepared from potable water. In some stray cases the presence of adulterants like formaldehyde is reported which is prohibited by law. CIFT has developed the technologies for rapid screening of adulterants namely formaldehyde and ammonia in fresh fish at field level.

Maintaining an uninterrupted cold chain throughout the fish value chain is the solution for preventing adulteration of fish with harmful chemicals and making good quality fish available for the consumers.

How can post harvest losses in fisheries be reduced, particularly for small scale fishers?

Post-harvest losses refer to the reduction in the quantity or quality of fish and seafood from the point of capture through handling, transportation, storage, processing and marketing. These include physical damage, quality and nutritional deterioration, and economic losses caused by reduced market value.

The major causes are improper handling, physical damage during harvesting and transportation, inadequate icing and cold-chain facilities, poor storage and logistics, limited access to preservation technologies, weak market linkages, and inadequate awareness and training.

Reducing these losses requires an integrated approach that combines improved handling practices, effective cold-chain infrastructure, value addition, stronger market linkages, capacity building and institutional support. The solutions should be affordable, accessible and suited to local conditions.

For small-scale fishers, however, the adoption of such measures is often constrained by the high cost of cold-chain infrastructure and equipment, poor infrastructure in remote areas, limited access to credit, fragmented value chains and inadequate access to remunerative markets.

These challenges can be addressed through targeted credit and microfinance schemes, cooperative approaches, public-private partnerships and government support for shared infrastructure and appropriate technologies.