MPEDA to Host National Seafood Skill Olympiad at Seafood Expo Bharat 2026
Kochi: The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will organise the second edition of the National Seafood Skill Olympiad from July 1 to 3, 2026, as part of Seafood Expo Bharat (SEB) 2026. The event aims to showcase the skills of seafood processing professionals while promoting innovation, quality enhancement and value addition in India’s seafood export sector.
Ahead of the national competition, MPEDA conducted 50 Seafood Value Addition Training Programmes across the country, training more than 2,500 seafood processing workers and professionals. Participants received hands-on training in preparing export-oriented value-added seafood products such as breaded squid rings, Nobashi shrimp, breaded butterfly shrimp, cooked peeled and deveined tail-on shrimp, marinated shrimp skewers and fish fillets.
Following the training sessions, preliminary skill contests were held to identify top performers. Winners advanced to State-Level Skill Olympiads conducted across coastal states, followed by Regional Skill Olympiads in Mumbai for the West Coast and Vijayawada for the East Coast.
The top 10 participants from the regional rounds have now qualified for the National Seafood Skill Olympiad Grand Finale, where they will demonstrate their expertise before a jury comprising seafood industry and academic experts.
The winners will receive medals, certificates and cash prizes, including Rs 1 lakh for the first prize, Rs 75,000 for the second prize, Rs 50,000 for the third prize and Rs 25,000 as a consolation award.
The event is expected to attract senior government officials, seafood exporters, international buyers, industry leaders and delegates attending Seafood Expo Bharat 2026.
A dedicated Skill Olympiad Pavilion will showcase the award-winning seafood products created by finalists. The pavilion will also host live demonstrations and tasting sessions featuring export-oriented seafood products developed through MPEDA’s training initiatives.
MPEDA Chairman P. Jawahar said the Olympiad reflects the organisation’s commitment to strengthening India’s seafood value chain by recognising skilled professionals and encouraging workforce development. He noted that investing in human capital is essential for sustaining India’s leadership in the blue economy and meeting evolving global market demands.
Seafood Expo Bharat 2026, India’s premier international seafood exhibition, will feature more than 325 stalls covering seafood processing, aquaculture, packaging, logistics and government sectors. Nearly 5,000 domestic and international stakeholders are expected to participate in business meetings, networking sessions and technical discussions focused on innovation, sustainability and emerging industry trends.
The expo will also host the Seafood Culinary Olympiad alongside the National Seafood Skill Olympiad, creating a comprehensive platform for industry stakeholders to explore business opportunities and build global partnerships.
With India targeting a 25% share of value-added products in total seafood exports by 2030, MPEDA continues to implement skill development and infrastructure initiatives aimed at boosting product innovation, quality standards and export competitiveness across the seafood processing industry.