India, Iceland Forge Partnership for Sustainable Blue Growth and Zero-Waste Fisheries
A high-level Indian delegation led by Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, concluded a three-day visit to Iceland from September 10–12 to strengthen cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture.
Reykjavík/New Delhi, September 13: A high-level Indian delegation led by Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, concluded a three-day visit to Iceland aimed at strengthening cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture. The visit, held from September 10–12, focused on promoting sustainable blue growth through innovation exchange, investment opportunities, and technology transfer.
During meetings with the Iceland Ocean Cluster (IOC), discussions centred on developing fisheries and aquaculture clusters in India with a focus on zero-waste interventions. Both sides explored avenues for Icelandic seafood processors to invest in India and identified collaboration in fish processing, value addition, traceability, and certification. Companies like BRIM and Hampiðjan shared insights on Iceland’s cutting-edge technologies and pioneering waste-free models.
Dr. Likhi also visited MATIS, an Icelandic food and biotech R&D company, to explore joint research in food safety, biotechnology, and sustainable resource utilization. The delegation interacted with Icelandic officials, including Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, Minister of Industries, and participated in the Icelandic Fishing Expo 2025, engaging with associations and entrepreneurs on innovative marine technologies.
The collaboration envisions deployment of deep-sea fishing vessels with on-board processing, robust traceability systems, and advanced vessel monitoring and surveillance (VMS) to strengthen India’s fisheries sector. Future cooperation will also extend to trout farming in hilly states and developing technologies for tuna fisheries in the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
India’s cluster-based approach under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has already established 34 fisheries and aquaculture clusters across the country, covering activities from seaweed and ornamental fish to brackish water aquaculture and coldwater fisheries. The Iceland partnership is expected to complement this initiative by bringing global best practices and zero-waste models to Indian clusters.
Officials described the visit as a “promising chapter” in Indo-Icelandic cooperation, likely to catalyse joint research, industrial partnerships, and innovation-led growth in the blue economy.
