MPEDA’s flagship competition recognizes excellence in seafood value addition, highlighting India’s growing focus on skilled processing professionals and export-ready products.
A seafood processing professional from Andhra Pradesh has emerged as the winner of the Second National Seafood Skill Olympiad on Seafood Value Addition, held during Seafood Expo Bharat 2026 in Kochi. Organized by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the competition showcased India’s growing emphasis on workforce development and value addition in the seafood export sector.
P. Surya Bhaskar of Devi Fisheries Ltd., Kakinada, secured the top honour after demonstrating exceptional technical expertise in preparing export-quality value-added seafood products. He was awarded a cash prize of ₹1 lakh. Muthu Kumaran from Theva & Co., Tuticorin, claimed second place, while Sagarika Sardar of SS Seafoods Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, and Barasarani Jena of Sabri Food Products Pvt. Ltd., Bhubaneswar, secured third and fourth positions, respectively.
The grand finale featured ten finalists selected through a rigorous multi-stage competition that began with 50 Seafood Value Addition Training Programmes conducted by MPEDA across India’s east and west coasts. More than 2,500 seafood processing professionals received specialized training in preparing export-oriented seafood products before progressing through state-level and regional competitions to qualify for the national finale.
During the final round, participants prepared a range of internationally demanded value-added seafood products, including Nobashi shrimp, breaded butterfly shrimp, cooked peeled deveined tail-on (PDTO) shrimp, marinated shrimp skewers, breaded squid rings, and fish fillets. Contestants were evaluated by an expert panel on product quality, technical precision, hygiene, presentation, and adherence to international processing standards.
MPEDA Chairman P. Jawahar said the National Seafood Skill Olympiad reflects the authority’s commitment to strengthening India’s seafood processing workforce and promoting innovation across the marine products value chain. He emphasized that investments in skill development are essential to maintaining India’s competitiveness in global seafood markets and achieving the country’s long-term export growth objectives.
The Olympiad formed a major attraction at Seafood Expo Bharat 2026, which brought together exporters, processors, technology providers, international buyers, and policymakers to explore new business opportunities and technological advancements in the seafood industry. The event also aligns with India’s ambition to increase the share of value-added seafood products in total seafood exports from around 10% to 25% by 2030, creating higher-value opportunities for the country’s marine products sector.