The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi, will provide technical support to the Andaman and Nicobar administration to promote traditional fish products and standardise fishing boat designs.

As part of the initiative, CIFT has entered into two consultancy agreements with the Department of Fisheries of the Andaman and Nicobar administration in Sri Vijaya Puram, according to a statement.

A key component of the collaboration is to support applications for Geographical Indication (GI) tags for two traditional fish products: Chilled Andaman Coral Trout (Dollar Fish) and Nicobari Thoharango (smoked and dried).

Under the first consultancy, CIFT will undertake nutritional profiling and shelf-life studies, develop standardised safety protocols, and provide technical training to local and tribal producers.

Under the second consultancy, ICAR-CIFT will provide 30 standardised fishing boat designs of various sizes and categories, covering motorised and mechanised boats. The designs will include revised drawings, technical specifications and cost estimates, the statement said.

The collaboration aims to promote traditional fish products, improve livelihood opportunities for local and tribal communities, and encourage sustainable, technology-driven fisheries development in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the statement added.