Network for Fish Quality Management and Sustainable Fishing (NETFISH)

Education through MPEDA-NETFISH

Network for Fish Quality Management and Sustainable Fishing (NETFISH) is a society formed in 2006 under the aegis of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Kochi. The Society is registered under the Travancore–Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955. MPEDA-NETFISH functions as the extension arm of MPEDA in capture fisheries sector and supports in improving the quality of fishery products exported from the country and the sustainability of fishery resources as well. The major objectives of MPEDA-NETFISH is to empower fisheries sector by imparting knowledge to fishers, processing workers, technicians, other fishery stakeholders etc. on fish quality management, conservation of fish resources and sustainable fishing.

MPEDA-NETFISH Head Office is located at Vallarpadam, Kochi. The Chairman of MPEDA is the President of MPEDA-NETFISH and the Chief Executive Officer is the Officer-in-Charge of MPEDA-NETFISH. MPEDA-NETFISH have its State Coordinators in all the 9 maritime states of India, attached to the respective MPEDA offices in that state, to execute the capacity building training programs in the marine capture fisheries sector.

Address : MPEDA-NETFISH, Vallarpadam P. O., Kochi-682 504
Phone : 0484 2982205
Email ID : netfishz[at]mpeda[dot]gov[dot]in
Contact Person: Dr.Joice V. Thomas, Chief Executive, MPEDA-NETFISH
Website : www.netfishmpeda.org

Activities & Services

  1. Organizes  capacity building programs among fishers, fish handlers, processing workers and other stakeholders by networking with fisher societies, federations and other governmental and non-governmental organizations in all the nine maritime states of India.
  2. Conducts fishing vessel based awareness programs to improve the fish handling practices, hygiene and sustainable fishing practices, so that supply of good quality fish will be augmented facilitating more export and ensure future fish resource availability for export.
  3. Carries out fishing harbour based programs for fishers & fish handling workers to inculcate good handling practices to keep the quality of the fish, reduce post-harvest loss and to impart responsible fishing practices for conservation of the fish resources.
  4. Provides training to Pre-processing & Processing centre workers on good handling practices, sanitation and personal hygiene to maintain the quality at par with the guidelines of importing countries.
  5. Conducts awareness programs for dryfish workers and SHGs to improve the quality of the dry fish production, thus improving dry fish export from the country.
  6. Conducts Skill Development Programs on Square mesh fabrication and onboard trials, Tuna onboard handling and processing, Sea safety and navigation, Value addition of fishery products etc.
  7. Arranges Mass Communication programs such as street plays, door to door campaigns, rallies, medical camps, school programs, expo, etc. on need basis.
  8. Joins hand in Swacchh Bharat mission by conducting Harbour/Coastal Clean-ups and initiating various plastic eradication programs with the support of fishers.
  9. Organizes Workshops & Stakeholder’s meetings for needful changes in the sector.
  10. Runs collaborative programs/projects with NFDB, ICAR-CIFT, ICAR-CMFRI, CIFNET, FSI, NIFPHATT, State Fisheries Departments, Forest Departments,  Port Trusts, and Universities.
  11. Conducts exclusive capacity building activities for the welfare of SC/ST fishers of the country.
  12. Collects real time data on boat arrivals, fish catch landings and auction rate from about 100 major landing sites across the country, on a daily basis and maintains the database in a web portal.
  13. Involves in Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation network by collecting data on sighting, fishery interaction and by-catch.

 

Extension Tools: Developed various awareness tools such as 5 documentaries, 8 animation films, 13 posters, 22 leaflets 2 booklets and 2 training manuals on relevant topics, in 10 different languages viz. English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Odia and Bengali and disseminated among the stakeholders

Major Achievements

  1. Conducted more than 34,000 extension programs so far, supporting nearly 10 lakh fishers and fishery stakeholders during the last 16 years.
  2. Reduced post-harvest loss in fishing vessels by popularizing pre-cooling/quick chilling practices and the fishers are getting 10-15 % more rate for their catch owing to its better quality and appearance.
  3. Improved hygienic handling practices in fishing vessels and fish landing sites, contributing to reduction in post-harvest loss at primary points
  4. Introduced regular cleaning schedules at various harbours and landing centres
  5. Involved in development of infrastructure facilities in harbours and landing centres
  6. Involved in formation of Harbour Management Societies/Committees at harbours
  7. Implemented Dress Code for Harbour workers and Pre-processing Centre workers
  8. Familiarized the conveyer ice crusher system at harbours and as a result, the Boat owners/ fishers have made so many new conveyer ice crushers for hygienic handling of Ice.
  9. Improved fish handling using crates in fishing vessels & harbours
  10. Popularized and implemented Square Mesh cod-ends in trawl nets
  11. Promoted sustainability of Marine Fishery Resources by acting against juvenile fishing
  12. Implemented Vessel log sheet at a few harbours
  13. Initiated a project on marine plastic collection and safe disposal at Neendakara Kollam during 2017 by collaboration with Boat Owner’s Association Kollam, Dept. of Fisheries Kerala, Harbour Engineering Dept., Suchitwa Mission Kerala, etc. Govt. of Kerala has taken up this program and emulating the same in all coastal districts of Kerala.
  14. Acted as a catalyst to start DROP (Drive to Recover Ocean  Plastic) project  by Plan at Earth NGO in Munambamharbor for removing plastic from sea, with the support of fishers and financial support of HCL foundation
  15. Participation as a collaborating partner in the Marine mammal Stock Assessment project of Dept. of Fisheries GoI, run by FSI.