On 11th September, Dr. Likhi engaged with senior representatives of the Iceland Ocean Cluster (IOC), exploring partnerships in fisheries and aquaculture cluster development in India. Discussions emphasised zero-waste interventions, leveraging Iceland’s advanced sustainable marine technologies alongside India’s expansive production capabilities. Investment opportunities, business-to-business linkages, and innovation-driven cooperation in fish processing, value addition, traceability, and certification were key topics addressed.
Senior officials from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) presented India’s vision for cluster-based development, highlighting potential areas for international collaboration. Icelandic companies such as BRIM and Hampiðjan shared insights on zero-waste models and modern processing technologies. The delegation also visited MATIS, Iceland’s leading food and biotech R&D institution, to study innovations in food safety, biotechnology, and sustainable marine resource utilization.
Fisheries Expo and Ministerial Engagements
On 10th September, the Indian delegation attended the Icelandic Fishing Expo 2025 at Laugardalshöll, Reykjavík. Dr. Likhi met Ms. Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, Iceland’s Minister of Industries, discussing developments in fisheries and aquaculture, institutional collaboration, and commercial partnerships. The delegation also interacted with Icelandic fishing associations, agencies, and entrepreneurs, exploring innovative technologies and best practices in sustainable fisheries.
Key areas for future cooperation identified include establishing fisheries and aquaculture clusters with zero-waste interventions, deploying deep-sea vessels with onboard processing facilities, trans-shipment capabilities, and advanced traceability and certification systems. Training and capacity building in deep-sea fishing technologies, adoption of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), and promoting trout farming and tuna aquaculture in India’s hill states and island territories were also emphasised.
Boosting India’s Blue Economy through Clusters
India has already adopted a cluster-based development model under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to enhance competitiveness, efficiency, and organized growth in fisheries and aquaculture. Currently, 34 clusters have been notified across various states and Union Territories, spanning initiatives such as seaweed, ornamental fisheries, coldwater fisheries, tuna, and aquaculture-based tourism.
This model connects fishers, farmers, cooperatives, vendors, and start-ups to strengthen the value chain from production to export. The collaboration with Iceland is expected to accelerate the adoption of zero-waste practices, modern processing technologies, and sustainable marine management, significantly contributing to India’s blue economy and international competitiveness.