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. The initiative aimed to equip participants with the skills needed to produce export-oriented seafood products that meet international quality standards and evolving consumer demand.

Regional rounds of the Olympiad were conducted in Mumbai for the West Coast Zone and Visakhapatnam for the East Coast Zone, from where the top ten contestants qualified for the grand finale.

During the final competition, participants prepared six export-focused seafood products, including Nobashi Shrimp, Breaded Butterfly Shrimp, Cooked Peeled Deveined Tail-On (PDTO) Shrimp, Marinated Shrimp Skewers, Breaded Squid Rings and Fish Fillets.

Speaking at the event, MPEDA Chairman P. Jawahar said the Skill Olympiad reflects the organisation's commitment to building a globally competitive seafood sector by strengthening workforce skills, food safety, processing excellence and sustainable production practices. He noted that skilled professionals play a critical role in enhancing India's seafood export competitiveness and meeting the changing requirements of international buyers.

The competition was judged by a panel of experts from research institutions and the seafood processing industry, who evaluated contestants on technical execution, hygiene standards, precision, presentation and overall product quality.

The award ceremony was attended by MPEDA Chairman P. Jawahar, Director Dr. Ram Mohan M.K., Secretary Dr. Gibin Kumar, Joint Director Anilkumar, and Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) CEO Dr. K. N. Raghavan, along with senior government officials, seafood exporters, international buyers, industry representatives and technical experts participating in Seafood Expo Bharat 2026.

Visitors to the exhibition also had the opportunity to experience the award-winning seafood products at the MPEDA Skill Olympiad Pavilion, where live cooking demonstrations and tasting sessions showcased a range of export-oriented value-added seafood products developed through MPEDA's training initiatives.