Sri Vijaya Puram | January 16, 2026
The Island Seafood Festival–2026, celebrating the rich flavours, traditions and cultural heritage of the sea, was inaugurated on Thursday at the Marina Park stretch road, Sri Vijaya Puram. The two-day festival is being organised on the theme “Safe, Wholesome & Sustainable Seafood for All,” highlighting the importance of responsible fishing practices, food safety and sustainable seafood consumption.
The festival is being organised by the Department of Fisheries in association with the Information, Publicity & Tourism (IP&T) Department, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, with financial support from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, with special emphasis on Tuna Cluster Development in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The festival was formally inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, in the presence of Ms. Jyoti Kumari, Secretary (Fisheries), Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman), Ms. Jagtap Kalyani Rajendra, Director of Fisheries, and senior officials of the Fisheries Department.
As many as 22 stalls have been set up at the venue by government institutions and organisations including FSI, CIARI, NIOT and NFDB, Hyderabad, along with Self-Help Groups, fisheries cooperatives, hotels and restaurants. After the inauguration, the Chief Secretary visited the stalls and interacted with scientists, fish traders, SHGs and fisheries cooperatives. He appreciated the efforts of the Fisheries Department in showcasing the islands’ marine diversity and the recent developmental activities in fisheries and aquaculture. Encouraging the participants of the Best Mr. Chef and Mrs. Chef competitions, he directed the department to compile and publish their recipes along with photographs of the seafood dishes prepared. A video on the Seafood Festival was also released during the inaugural programme.
Envisioned as a celebration of the islands’ abundant marine resources, the festival aims to bring together fishers, entrepreneurs, scientists, chefs, tourists and the general public on a common platform to experience the journey of seafood “from ocean to plate,” while promoting fisheries-based livelihoods.
As part of the inaugural day programmes, a Traditional Fishing Boat Racing Competition was organised at FLC, Junglighat, showcasing traditional fishing skills and the maritime heritage of the islands. A Mr. Chef and Mrs. Chef Competition held at Marina Park saw 20 participants demonstrate their culinary talents using locally available seafood. A seafood awareness quiz competition was also conducted for students of Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM).
The festival will continue today (Friday), with the day’s programmes scheduled to commence in the evening at Marina Park. A large number of visitors are expected to attend the concluding events, which will include cultural performances and prize distribution to winners of the various competitions. The general public, tourists and seafood enthusiasts have been invited to take part in this celebration highlighting sustainable fisheries and the vibrant seafood culture of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
