The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, successfully on Tuesday held the grand finale of its first-ever National Skill Olympiad on seafood value addition at the Seafood Expo Bharat in Chennai. The initiative aims to foster a skilled workforce and promote innovation in value-added seafood exports.
Emerging victorious in the closely contested final was Thanseer K R of Abad Foods, Malipuram, Kerala. The awards were presented by Member of Parliament and MPEDA Authority Member Hibi George Eden D. V. Swamy, Chairman of MPEDA.
The Olympiad, a pioneering effort by MPEDA, saw participation from trained seafood processing professionals from both the East and West coasts of India. Preliminary rounds were held in Kochi on May 29 and in Visakhapatnam on June 5, with the top ten candidates advancing to the semi-finals on June 30. From there, four finalists were selected for the finale.
The final round featured professionals from across the country competing on aspects such as quality, hygiene, execution, and presentation. Balamurugan I from Edhayam Frozen Foods Pvt Ltd, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu secured second place, while Sandya Rani Palaparthi of Coastal Cooperation Ltd, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh came third. D. Anitha, also from Kakinada, representing Sandhya Aqua Exports Pvt Ltd, finished fourth.
Prize money of ₹1,00,000 was awarded to the winner, followed by ₹75,000 and ₹50,000 for second and third place respectively. The fourth-place finalist received a consolation prize of ₹25,000. All participants were also honoured with medals and certificates.
Speaking at the event, Hibi Eden lauded MPEDA’s innovative approach in organizing the Olympiad and emphasized its role in advancing India’s seafood export industry. Chairman Shri D. V. Swamy highlighted the Olympiad’s contribution toward making India a global hub for value-added seafood and announced plans to make the event an annual feature in MPEDA’s calendar.
The finale drew participation from a wide range of stakeholders, including officials from Central and State fisheries departments, seafood exporters, foreign buyers, and delegates of the ongoing Seafood Expo Bharat 2025.
In addition to the competition, seafood products crafted by the finalists were showcased for public viewing, accompanied by a live tasting session at the MPEDA Skill Olympiad pavilion, giving attendees a direct experience of the culinary excellence and processing expertise on display.