A Kerala-based startup working on clean, ready-to-cook seafood has been named Best Fisheries Startup at the Coastal States Fisheries Meet 2025, held in Mumbai.
The firm, Epicure Innovative LLP, was recognised for rolling out a packaging method called Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP) — a technique still relatively new in the Indian seafood market. The startup operates with incubation support from the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), which falls under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
VSP packaging, commonly seen in export markets, seals seafood in airtight packs. This not only extends shelf life but also keeps the contents hygienic and free from chemical preservatives.
For a country that often struggles with food safety and cold storage, the technology could offer a cleaner retail option — though it remains to be seen how widely it will be adopted.
Epicure, founded in 2022, has gradually expanded from Kerala to markets in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Its products, mostly pre-cleaned fish and seafood portions are available through online quick-delivery apps like Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart, and in select supermarket chains.
For urban consumers looking for convenient cooking options without the hassle of fish preparation, the startup's model may hold appeal. But whether this approach will disrupt India’s largely informal seafood sector is still uncertain.
The startup has been receiving both technical and business development support under the Zonal Technology Management and Agribusiness Incubation (ZTM-ABI) Centre at CIFT, based in Kochi. The institute, which works under ICAR, has been trying to help modernise India's fisheries by guiding early-stage ventures like Epicure through mentorship and tech transfer.
Officials from the incubation centre say such partnerships could help accelerate innovation in the fisheries space — especially when it comes to hygiene, value addition, and market access.
The event in Mumbai also saw the laying of foundation stones for various fisheries projects under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). According to government officials, projects worth over ₹255 crore have been planned across seven coastal States and Union Territories.
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who heads the Ministries of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, attended the event. These projects are expected to focus on cold chain expansion, harbour upgrades, and support for local fishers — though details on exact implementation timelines were not immediately shared.
