Representing Devi Fisheries Ltd., Kakinada, Bhaskar outperformed nine other finalists to claim the top honour after showcasing exceptional technical skills and culinary expertise in preparing export-oriented value-added seafood products.
The National Skill Olympiad brought together ten highly trained seafood processing professionals from across India, who competed in a live culinary contest designed to evaluate industry-standard seafood processing techniques, food safety practices, product presentation, and technical precision.
Muthu Kumaran of Theva & Co., Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, secured the second position, while Ms. Sagarika Sardar of SS Seafoods Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, West Bengal, and Ms. Barasarani Jena of Sabri Food Products Pvt. Ltd., Bhubaneswar, Odisha, finished third and fourth, respectively.
The winners received cash prizes of ₹1 lakh, ₹75,000, ₹50,000, and ₹25,000 for the first, second, third, and fourth positions, respectively, along with medals and certificates.
The awards were presented by MPEDA Chairman Shri P. Jawahar, Director Dr. Ram Mohan M.K., Secretary Dr. Gibin Kumar, Joint Director Shri Anilkumar, and Dr. K. N. Raghavan, Chief Executive Officer of the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), who attended the ceremony as the chief guest.
During the final competition, contestants were challenged to prepare six internationally popular value-added seafood products within the stipulated time. The products included Nobashi Shrimp, Breaded Butterfly Shrimp, Cooked Peeled Deveined Tail-On (PDTO) Shrimp, Marinated Shrimp Skewers, Breaded Squid Rings, and Fish Fillets.
An expert jury comprising seafood scientists, quality assurance specialists, and industry professionals evaluated the participants based on technical expertise, hygiene standards, precision, product quality, and presentation.
The judging panel included Dr. Sarika K., Senior Scientist at ICAR-CIFT, Kochi; Dr. Nithin C.T., Processing & Quality Assurance Supervisor at NIFPHATT, Kochi; Shri Francis Assisi, Production Manager at Parayil Seafood Pvt. Ltd.; Shri Jayan Jacob, General Manager at Sandhya Aqua Exports Pvt. Ltd.; and Mr. Vijayakrishna, General Manager at VKM Foods.
Speaking at the event, MPEDA Chairman Shri P. Jawahar said the Olympiad represents a significant step toward building a globally competitive seafood processing industry capable of meeting the evolving requirements of international markets.
He noted that MPEDA continues to strengthen India's seafood export ecosystem by promoting quality assurance, food safety, skilled workforce development, sustainable seafood production, processing excellence, and reliable supply chains.
"The Olympiad serves as an important platform for developing industry-ready professionals while supporting India's growing reputation as a trusted supplier of high-quality seafood products in global markets," he said.
The event attracted senior officials from the Central and State governments, seafood exporters, international buyers, technical experts, industry leaders, and delegates attending Seafood Expo Bharat 2026.
Award-winning seafood products prepared during the competition were displayed at the Skill Olympiad Pavilion, where visitors also witnessed live demonstrations and participated in tasting sessions featuring export-oriented seafood products developed through MPEDA's training initiatives.
Ahead of the grand finale, MPEDA organised 50 Seafood Value Addition Training Programmes across India's eastern and western coastal regions, training more than 2,500 seafood processing professionals and workers in the preparation of high-value seafood products for export markets.
Regional rounds of the Olympiad were conducted in Mumbai for the West Coast Zone and Visakhapatnam for the East Coast Zone. The ten finalists advanced to the national competition after qualifying through the regional contests held on June 30.
The initiative highlights MPEDA's continued focus on enhancing workforce skills, improving value addition, and strengthening India's competitiveness in the global seafood export industry through advanced training and technical excellence.
