MPEDA will organise the National Seafood Skill Olympiad from July 1 to 3, 2026 as part of Seafood Expo Bharat, following nationwide training of more than 2,500 seafood processing professionals.
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 Olympiad aims to promote innovation, enhance quality standards, recognise industry talent and strengthen workforce development in India’s seafood processing sector.
As a precursor to the event, MPEDA conducted 50 Seafood Value Addition Training Programmes nationwide, training more than 2,500 seafood processing workers and professionals in preparing products such as breaded squid rings, Nobashi, breaded butterfly shrimp, cooked Peeled, Deveined, Tail-On (PDTO) shrimp, marinated shrimp skewers and fish fillets. Preliminary-level skill competitions followed each training programme, with the best performers progressing through State-Level Skill Olympiads and Regional Skill Olympiads held in Mumbai for the West Coast and Vijayawada for the East Coast. The top 10 performers from the regional competitions have qualified for the National Grand Finale, where winners will receive cash prizes of Rs 1,00,000 for first prize, Rs 75,000 for second, Rs 50,000 for third and Rs 25,000 for fourth (consolation), alongside medals and certificates. MPEDA Chairman P. Jawahar said the Olympiad reflects MPEDA’s commitment to fostering excellence across the seafood value chain and that investment in human capital is essential for sustaining India’s leadership in the blue economy.
Seafood Expo Bharat 2026 will feature more than 325 exhibition stalls across segments covering seafood processing, aquaculture, packaging machinery, logistics and government pavilions, with nearly 5,000 domestic and international stakeholders expected to participate over the three-day event in business-to-business meetings and five parallel technical sessions. India’s seafood exports reached a record USD 8.45 billion in FY 2025-26, with the country currently operating 670 approved seafood processing units with a combined processing capacity exceeding 40,000 metric tonnes per day. Of these, 127 units manufacture value-added seafood products, contributing nearly 10% (USD 0.84 billion) of India’s total seafood exports. India has set a target of increasing the share of value-added products to 25% of total seafood exports by 2030, supported by MPEDA’s continuing schemes for product innovation, processing infrastructure, workforce development and quality standards awareness.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)
