A golden voyage for Kochi's CIFT

As the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology celebrates its golden jubilee, our reporter brings to you its glorious achievements.
Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi.
Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi.

KOCHI: This is the golden jubilee year for Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) which has become famous for its pre and post harvesting technologies. The country, especially Kerala, has gained a lot from the technologies - be it fishing, processing the catch and adding value to it - developed by this premier research institute.

Founded in 1957, CIFT has proven its excellence in development of fishing and fish processing technologies. During the last 60 years, the institute has made commendable scientific contributions in fish harvesting, processing, packaging, product development, quality assurance, fishery byproducts, fishery waste utilisation etc. The institute is renowned for its high caliber and innovative research activities, training, partnerships and entrepreneurship promotion.

Headquartered at Willingdon Island the institute has research centres at Visakhapatnam, Veraval and Mumbai. CIFT is the only national centre in the country where research in all disciplines related to fishing and fish processing is undertaken. This establishes its existence as an epitome in the realm of Indian fishery sector.

Boosting pre and post harvest sectors

Over the years, CIFT has come up with a wide range of methods for the harvest and post-harvest sectors. The institute’s interventions have resulted in the adoption of improved methods of trawling, purse seining, gill netting, lining and trap operations and efficient vessel designs. It has also brought in improved methods of fish curing, fish processing, fish-based value added products, fish waste utilisation and packaging; and sanitary and hygienic standards based on microbiological and biochemical quality parameters and HACCP.

The technologies developed range from designing of boats to preparation of feed for cattle, pig, and poultry from fisheries waste and some products required in medical field. Most of the equipment required for processing are also developed by the scientists at the institute. Separation of chondroitin sulphate, a product used in the treatment of arthritis, from shark bones and cartilage is a major achievement of the institute. CIFT also has to its credit the development of succinyl chitosan-based hydro-alcohol hand sanitiser for fish processing industry workers.

Trawling through history

The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research was set up following the recommendations of a high power committee constituted by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 1957. The Processing Division of the institute began in 1958 and the Extension, Information and Statistics Division in 1961. It was in 1962, the institute was given its present name. The administrative control was brought under the ICAR in October 1, 1967.

“ICAR-CIFT has been developing craft, gear and fishing methods for both the marine and inland sectors, with the emphasis being on resource conservation and sustainability besides increasing the productivity. 80% of the mechanized wooden crafts in the country are built based on 12 standard designs in the size range of 7.6 m to 15.2 m developed by the institute,” said C N Ravisankar, director, CIFT. CIFT was been instrumental in introducing steel and fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) as boat building materials by providing suitable designs for fishing canoes and vessels. It also standardised netting, netting yarn and twine.

It developed fishing gear and methods for traditional, traditional motorized and also small scale mechanised sectors. “Ring seines were introduced in Kerala by the institute and today it is the most widely used gear in traditional sector. Large mesh purseseines were also introduced and it has seen 100% adoption in the state. Other gears include species specific gill nets, semi-pelagic trawls and traps. Resource conservation efforts include development of bycatch, juvenile reduction devices, V-form otter boards,” Ravisankar pointed out.

Specific developments

Specific developments include square mesh cod end (now part of MFRAs of various states), Juvenile Fish and Shrimp Sorting Device (JFSSD), CIFT-Turtle Excluder Device (TED).

The institute is active in conservation efforts through popularisation of these technologies in partnership with other organizations like NetFish (MPEDA), WWF and other NGOs. It is also partnering with Indian National Centre For Ocean Information Services INCOIS in efforts to identify PFZs to aid fishermen in locating fish schools that help in reducing scouting time and reduced fuel use and in documenting traditional knowledge along the Kerala coast. “Future efforts by the institute will also focus on developing suitable and improved systems for the various sectors of the fishing industry with a stress on fuel saving and green technologies,” the director said.

In the post harvest sector, the institute focuses on complete utilisation of resources and includes in its ambit handling and preservation of the catch, value addition, waste management and quality assurance.

Developing value added products

The institute is also engaged in developing value added products (including ready-to-cook and eat products), by-products (including high-value ones) from fish and shell fish and developing appropriate packaging for the same. Technology is also transferred to stakeholders and interested entrepreneurs, a recent example being products launched and marketed in Kerala by Vinayaka Foods. It has given technical help in establishing and modernising fish markets which has been taken up by state agencies through NFDB funding. “The institute which played a significant role in establishing the seafood processing sector in Kerala, conducts regular skill development programmes in value addition, improved drying and handling practices for traditional fishers,” Ravisankar said.

Business incubation

The institute became a pioneer among the fisheries institutions under ICAR after it launched a Business Incubation Unit for  entrepreneurs and startups in the fisheries sector. It also has a well-equipped pilot plant with state-of-the art process lines for trial production.At the incubation unit, entrepreneurs get shared office space, conference hall with facility for video conferencing besides guidance from scientists. Beneficiaries only need to pay a minimal fee to use the facilities. Once the entrepreneurs attain  confidence to foray into the market, CIFT helps them to design the factory also. Even if the business fails, the investors will not have to face a huge loss since they didn’t have to cough huge sums for technical support.

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