The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, is enhancing fisherman training in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands. The focus is on sashimi-grade tuna handling and export skills. A hybrid Review Meeting was chaired by Union Secretary Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi on October 27, 2023, in Mumbai to assess outreach and capacity-building activities undertaken by the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) and Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET).
Dr. Likhi stressed the importance of collaborative planning and synergy to achieve impactful outcomes, underlining the strategic significance of these islands in India's marine fisheries development, particularly in the tuna fishery sector. He emphasized targeted interventions, skill enhancement, and empowerment of local fishermen to adopt modern techniques. He proposed advanced overseas training for skilled fishermen in tuna handling, processing, and cold chain preservation.
FSI and CIFNET presented ongoing activities in the islands. Discussions covered enhancing technical competencies of fishers through specialized courses, hands-on training, field demonstrations, and technology dissemination. The meeting was attended by senior officials from NFDB, ICAR, MPEDA, NABARD, NCDC, the Department of Fisheries (Government of Maharashtra), and representatives from island administrations.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Fisheries: Primary governing body overseeing fisheries development, training, and export initiatives.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying: The ministry responsible for the Department of Fisheries.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands: One of the regions where enhanced fishermen training is focused.
Lakshadweep Islands: One of the regions where enhanced fishermen training is focused.
Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET): Institution undertaking outreach and capacity-building activities in the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Department of Fisheries to Enhance
Fishermen Training in A & N and Lakshadweep
Islands; Focus on Sashimi-Grade Tuna
Handling and Export Skills
Posted On: 27 OCT 2025 7:26PM by PIB Delhi
Union Secretary, Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, chaired a hybrid Review Meeting today in Mumbai to assess the
Outreach and Capacity-building activities undertaken by the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) and
Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET) in the Andaman &
Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands.
In his address, Dr. Likhi emphasized the importance of Collaborative planning of Capacity building
programmes and synergy among subordinate offices to deliver impactful and cohesive outcomes. Dr.
Likhi underlined the strategic importance of the Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands in
India’s marine fisheries development, especially in the Tuna fishery sector. He emphasized the need
for targeted interventions in capacity building, skill enhancement, and empowerment of local
fishermen, enabling them to adopt modern fishing techniques and post-harvest handling technologies.
Dr. Likhi further suggested that highly motivated and skilled fishermen from these regions be
provided opportunities for advanced overseas training in sashimi-grade tuna handling, processing, and
cold chain preservation techniques. Such initiatives, he noted, would contribute significantly towards
minimizing post-harvest losses, and enhancing the export competitiveness of Indian marine products.
He also highlighted the strategic role of FSI and CIFNET in strengthening marine capacity in remote
island regions.
Detailed presentations by FSI and CIFNET on the ongoing activities and outreach initiatives in
Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands were also given during the review meeting.
Discussions on enhancing the technical competencies of fishers and fisheries personnel through
specialized courses, hands-on training, field-level demonstrations, technology dissemination activities
aimed at improving the livelihoods of the local fishing communities etc. was also held during the
review. The Review Meeting was attended by Senior officials from NFDB, ICAR, MPEDA,
NABARD, NCDC, and the Department of Fisheries, Government of Maharashtra, along with
representatives from the Island administrations and other stakeholders.***
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