MPEDA skill olympiad showcases India's seafood processing talent, trains over 2,500 professionals

Kochi: The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) concluded the second edition of its National Skill Olympiad on Seafood Value Addition during Seafood Expo Bharat 2026 in Kochi, highlighting India's growing focus on skilled manpower and value-added seafood exports. The national-level competition brought together ten finalists from across the country, all trained through MPEDA's seafood value addition programmes. Participants demonstrated their expertise by preparing internationally marketable seafood products while being assessed on technical precision, hygiene, presentation and product quality. P. Surya Bhaskar of Devi Fisheries Ltd., Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, emerged as the winner of the Olympiad. Muthu Kumaran from Theva & Co., Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, secured second place. Ms. Sagarika Sardar of SS Seafoods Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, West Bengal, and Ms. Barasarani Jena of Sabri Food Products Pvt. Ltd., Bhubaneswar, Odisha, finished third and fourth, respectively. The winners received cash prizes of ₹1 lakh, ₹75,000 and ₹50,000 for the top three positions, while the fourth-place finisher received a consolation prize of ₹25,000. Medals and certificates were also presented during the award ceremony. Ahead of the finale, MPEDA organised 50 Seafood Value Addition Training Programmes across India's eastern and western coastal regions, training more than 2,500 seafood processing workers and professionals....