NETFISH

Network for Fish Quality Management and Sustainable Fishing (NETFISH)

Education Through 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. NETFISH, the extension arm of MPEDA, stands for improving the quality of fishery products exported from the country and the sustainability of fishery resources as well. The major objectives of NETIFSH is to empower fisheries sector by imparting knowledge to fishermen, fisherwomen, processing workers, technicians, other fishery stakeholders etc. on fish quality management, conservation of fish resources and sustainable fishing.

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

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

Activities & Services

NETFISH organizes grass root level capacity building programmes among fishermen, fisherwomen, processing workers and other stakeholders, thereby changing their mindset towards fish quality management and responsible fishing. Various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have been selected as members in NETFISH considering their past records on conducting fisheries development programmes. Personals from these member NGO’s are being trained on various fisheries extension programmes with the help of reputed fisheries institutes /universities /departments/scientists, etc. and are utilized for conducting various extension programmes among fisher folk. Both theory and practical classes are being arranged for the fishermen.

Since 2007, NETFISH has been conducting effective extension works in all the nine maritime states of India. Regular training programmes are conducted for the fisherfolks and other fishery stakeholders at areas in and around selected harbours and landing centers in these states. So far, NETFISH has successfully conducted around 30000 extension programmes whole through the country. NETFISH’s outreach programmes include Fish quality management programmes conducted for the various stakeholders at fish landing sites, fishing vessels, fishermen villages, pre-processing centers, processing factories and dryfish production centres. Also, awareness training on conservation of marine resources and sustainable fishing are imparted to the fishers through programmes conducted in fishing vessels, fishing harbours and fishermen villages. To spread the message more effectively among the beneficiaries, a variety of special programmes like street plays, clean-up programmes, mass communication programmes, school children programmes, medical camps, rally etc are also organized by NETFISH on need basis. Skill development training programmes in marine fishing, allied fields, fish processing and value addition are also taken up for the betterment of the sector.

NETFISH runs several projects independently or in collaboration with other organizations like NFDB, CIFT, CMFRI, CIFNET, NIFPHATT, WWF, State Fisheries Department Agencies, Ports, Universities etc. for the sustainability of the marine resources, for reducing the post harvest loss in fisheries, for improving the quality of the seafood materials, for improving the quality of dryfish products, for livelihood improvement of fisherfolks and so on. Also, exclusive capacity building activities are being conducted for the welfare of SC/ST fishermen of the country.

Collection of Daily Harbour Data

NETFISH, through its Harbour Data Collectors, is obtaining the data on the boat arrivals and fish catch landings occurring at about 100 major landing sites across the country on a daily basis. The data obtained are maintained in a web portal.

Extension Tools

NETFISH has developed various extension tools such as documentaries, animation films, posters, leaflets, handbooks and training manuals on different topics to use in the training programmes. They were disseminated among the stakeholders in 10 different languages viz. English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Odia and Bengali. Also various contents were developed and disseminated through social media as well.

Documentaries:

  1. Hygienic Handling of Fishes Onboard
  2. Hygienic Handling of Fishes in Harbours & Landing Centers
  3. Hygienic Harvest of Shrimps in Aquafarms
  4. Sustainable Fishing and Conservation of Fishery resources
  5. Hygienic Handling of Fishes at Pre-processing Centers

Animations

  1. Onboard- Good Practices for Better Price
  2. Conservation of fishery resources
  3. An Escape to the depths
  4. Hygiene in Processing Factories
  5. Square Mesh Cod End
  6. Juvenile Fishing

 

Posters & Charts

  1. Today’s Juveniles Tomorrow’s Wealth
  2. Wash fish in good quality water
  3. Never carry fish in open and without ice
  4. Always use shovel to handle fish
  5. Carry enough ice when going for fishing
  6. Use solar fish drier for good quality dry fish
  7. Clean your boat before and after fishing
  8. No…No…I don’t need this fish, you handled it unhygienically
  9. Fish : Ice; 1kg : 1 kg
  10. Who Spoiled it?
  11. Hygienic Handling in Harbours
  12. Hygienic Handling in Fishing Vessels
  13. Hygienic Handling in Pre-processing centres

Leaflets

  1. By-catch
  2. Coral reef
  3. Ecofriendly fishing methods
  4. Onboard Hygiene
  5. Ice &fish
  6. Juvenile fishing
  7. Hygiene at Harbour/Landing centre
  8. Mangroves
  9. Hygiene at Pre-processing centre
  10. Responsible fishing
  11. Good fish stall
  12. Marine pollution
  13. Marine turtles
  14. Overfishing
  15. GMP in shrimp farms
  16. Mesh size regulation
  17. Personal hygiene
  18. Good fish for good health
  19. Hygiene at Processing units
  20. Hygienic Production of Dryfish
  21. Microbial Contamination of Seafood
  22. Square mesh cod-end

Booklets

 

  1. “Relevance of Square mesh Cod end in Fisheries” – A handbook for Fishers
  2. ‘Sea Safety & Navigation’ – A handbook for Fishers

Training Manual

  1. Fish Quality Management & Conservation of Marine Fishery Resources- A Trainer’s Training Manual
  2. Processing Centre Training – A Trainer’s Training Manual

Major Achievements

  • Improved hygienic handling practices on board fishing vessels and at harbours and landing centres
  • Involved in development of infrastructure facilities in harbours and landing centres
  • Development of harbour management societies/committees in fishing harbours/landing centres
  • Introduced regular cleaning schedules at various harbours and landing centres
  • Implementation of dress code for harbour workers
  • Popularization of square mesh cod ends in trawls
  • Implementation of dress code at peeling sheds
  • Improvement of hygiene and sanitation at pre-processing centres
  • Improved production of good quality dry fish

Read more at: www.netfishmpeda.org