Kerala needs to create own brand of value-added fish products to tap overseas market: Fisheries Minister

Minister Saji Cherian opes KSCADC’s headquarters in city

Trivandrum / June 1, 2023

Thiruvananthapuram, June 1: Since coastal wealth can be harnessed as a major source of the state’s income, Kerala needs to create its own brand of fish-based products and scale up their export tapping the huge demand in overseas markets, Minister for Fisheries, Culture and Youth Affairs Shri Saji Cherian said today.

Speaking after inaugurating the headquarters complex of the Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC) at Kamaleswaram in the city, the Minister said novel concepts should be adopted for harnessing the marine wealth in a sustainable manner and optimising its export potential.

“By adopting novel concepts and initiating new programmes, the fisheries sector should focus on making of value-added fish products, which have a big market outside the country. We should make a massive shift towards export of value-added fish products in two to three years. Through this Kerala’s fish-based products can secure a huge foreign market by creating a brand”, the Minister said.

The inaugural ceremony of the two-storey complex also witnessed the launch of a major overseas marketing initiative of KSCADC, a state-owned company mandated to plan and implement programmes to tap the domestic and global market for fresh and value-added fish products and the socio-economic wellbeing of the coastal community. 

On the occasion the documents relating to export of value-added fish products to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were handed over by Transport Minister Shri Antony Raju to Ian Overseas Private Limited MD Mr Asees.

Shri Cherian, who received the documents relating to the purchase order of value-added products,pointed out that Kerala has not properly utilised its marine resources. Kerala’s economy will be significantly benefited from the utilisation of atleast 10 percent of the coastal resources, he said.

“Also, it has been planned to launch more seafood restaurants and fish hatcheries besides promoting production of value-added products. Apart from fishing, every family of coastal community should seek a supplementary occupation. The activities of KSCADC play a major role in implementing innovative ideas for the development of the fisheries sector”, he added.

Presiding over the function, Minister for General Education and Labour Shri V Sivankutty said the public interaction programme--theera sadassu-- organised by the Fisheries Department to interact with the people along the coastal region, hear their issues and take remedial measures along with promoting the development and welfare programmes of the government among the coastal community have contributed to bring about a positive change in the sector. 

Shri Antony Raju said the value-added fish products from Kerala has great export potential by ensuring their quality and reliability.

In his welcome address, KSCADC Managing Director Shri PI Sheik Pareeth said as the value-added fish products have huge overseas demand, especially from expatriate Malayalis, tapping this market is expected to benefit the fisheries sector significantly.

Considering this scope, more processing centres for value-addition of fish will be set up in the state to ensure fair price for fish and create job opportunities. Women workers from the coastal community at Sakthikulangara, Kollam, are enagaged in the processes of drying fish and production of as many as 18 value-added products using the modern technology developed by the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), he added.

KSCADC General Manager Shri Anilkumar P proposed a vote of thanks.

Councillor Smt Vijayakumari V, Fisheries Additional Director Smt Sreelu N S, KSCADC Director Board Members Shri E K Kennedy, Shri P A Harris and Shri T Raghuvaran, Matsyafed MD T Manoharan, Chief Enginer Harbour Engineering Department Shri Jomon K George and Chief Hydrographer Shri Gerosh Kumar V were also present.

The 5,400 square-feet complex also houses offices of Harbour Engineering Department, Fisheries Regional Office, Matsyafed Office, and Hydrographic Survey Office. The facilities at the building include conference halls on both floors.

Seeking to harness the market, KSCADC has been exporting fish products to foreign countries after obtaining consent from Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Food Safety and

 Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Export Inspection Agency (EIA), Shri Pareeth said. 

KSCADC integrates the development activities in the coastal areas of Kerala including protection of coastal area by deploying modern technology, creation of infrastructure, technology adoptions, commercial activities, consultancy services, maintenance and dredging projects.