The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are set to host the Island Seafood Festival–2026 on January 15 and 16, with the event scheduled from 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm at the Marina Park stretch road in Sri Vijaya Puram. The two-day festival is aimed at highlighting the islands’ marine resources, fisheries-based livelihoods and the growing focus on sustainable seafood practices.
The festival is being organised by the Department of Fisheries in association with the Information, Publicity and Tourism Department of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, with financial support from the National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad. A key focus of this year’s edition will be Tuna Cluster Development in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, reflecting efforts to strengthen value chains and promote responsible utilisation of tuna resources.
Conceived as a platform bringing together fishers, entrepreneurs, scientists, chefs, tourists and the general public, the festival seeks to present the journey of seafood from harvest to consumption. The theme for the 2026 edition, “Safe, Wholesome and Sustainable Seafood for All,” underscores the emphasis on food safety, sustainable fishing practices and awareness among consumers.
One of the major attractions of the festival will take place earlier in the day on January 15, with a Traditional Fishing Boat Racing Competition scheduled at the Fisheries Landing Centre, Junglighat, starting at 10 am. The event is expected to showcase traditional fishing skills and highlight the maritime heritage that has long shaped livelihoods across the islands.
Culinary activities will also form a central part of the programme. A Mr. Chef and Mrs. Chef Competition will be held on January 15 from 3 pm onwards at the Marina Park stretch, where participants will prepare dishes using locally available seafood. The pre-cooked dishes will be displayed for the public from 5 pm, allowing visitors to engage with the diversity and creativity of island seafood cuisine. Winners of the competition will be recognised on the closing day of the festival.
Throughout the two-day event, stalls will be allotted to fisher entrepreneurs, cooperatives, fishery institutes, sport fishing institutes, aquarium shops, hotels and restaurants, women self-help groups and other stakeholders. These stalls will display a wide range of fisheries-related products and services, including live, fresh, chilled and frozen fish, value-added seafood products, aquariums, fish feed, fisheries equipment and sport fishing services.
The festival is positioned as both a cultural and economic event, intended to provide visibility to fisheries enterprises while fostering greater public engagement with the sector. By bringing producers, processors and consumers onto a common platform, the event aims to strengthen linkages within the fisheries ecosystem.
Residents, tourists and seafood enthusiasts have been invited to participate in the Island Seafood Festival–2026 and experience the islands’ seafood traditions while supporting the broader goal of empowering the fisheries sector. The event is expected to draw significant public participation and reinforce the role of fisheries as a vital component of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ economy and cultural identity.
