India and Iceland partner to boost blue economy through sustainable fisheries

A high-level Indian delegation led by Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, completed a three-day visit to Iceland to strengthen bilateral cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture.

Dr. Likhi recently met senior representatives of the Iceland Ocean Cluster (IOC) in Reykjavík to advance collaboration on zero-waste fisheries, aquaculture clusters, and innovation-led growth. Both sides explored investment opportunities for Icelandic seafood processors in India and agreed to enhance business-to-business linkages. Discussions highlighted cooperation in fish processing, value addition, traceability, and certification.

The delegation visited MATIS, Iceland’s leading food and biotech R&D company, to discuss biotechnology, food safety, and sustainable marine utilization. On 10th September, Dr. Likhi met Ms. Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, Minister of Industries, Iceland, during the Icelandic Fishing Expo 2025. Talks covered deep-sea fishing vessels with onboard processing, advanced vessel monitoring, trout farming in hilly states, and tuna technologies for Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands.

The visit opens new avenues for research, technology transfer, and industrial partnerships. It also aligns with India’s cluster-based development model under PMMSY, which has notified 34 fisheries and aquaculture clusters across states to enhance competitiveness, reduce costs, and promote sustainable practices.