KOCHI, 12 May 2026: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has called for mandatory traceability systems in India’s fishmeal and fish oil sector amid rising demand and concerns over Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The demand emerged during a stakeholder consultation organised by CMFRI in Kochi, where marine scientists, policymakers and industry representatives stressed the need for end-to-end traceability across the fisheries value chain.
Participants at the meeting said stronger documentation and monitoring systems are essential to improve transparency, ensure sustainability and enhance market credibility in domestic and international seafood markets.
Focus on sustainable sourcing
Experts expressed concern over unregulated sourcing practices in the fishmeal sector and highlighted the importance of accountability from harvesting to processing and final consumption.
The consultation also discussed the need to diversify raw material sources for fishmeal and fish oil production to reduce pressure on conventional fish stocks.
Mesopelagic resources — deep-sea species found in midwater ocean zones — were identified as a potential alternative resource base for sustainable fishmeal production.
A collaborative pilot study led by CMFRI, described as the first of its kind in India, indicated that mesopelagic resources could be economically viable for fishmeal manufacturing, though experts recommended further scientific assessment before commercial scaling.
Scientific assessments critical
Dr Grinson George, Director of CMFRI, said the institute would undertake detailed fish stock assessments to ensure that any expansion of the fishmeal sector remains scientifically sustainable.
He added that CMFRI is also working towards strengthening deep-sea fishing capabilities by supporting the upgradation of India’s fishing fleet to enable traditional fishers to access offshore resources.
ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology Director Dr George Ninan said sustainable practices in the fishmeal industry are essential to conserve marine resources and improve price realisation in global markets.
Push for national traceability framework
Dr Sanjay Pandey, Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries, Government of India, urged stakeholders to adopt the National Traceability Framework for the fisheries sector.
He emphasised the need for coordinated efforts between research institutions and industry participants to establish transparent and reliable systems.
Dr Shubdeep Ghosh, Assistant Director at Indian Council of Agricultural Research, said stronger industry-research collaboration would be crucial for developing effective traceability technologies and monitoring mechanisms in the sector.
