Seafood Consumers Association signs MoU with Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies
Global partnership to strengthen seafood sustainability, education, and consumer awareness.
The Seafood Consumers Association (SCA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), India’s leading institution in fisheries and ocean research, to advance collaboration in seafood sustainability, nutrition, and consumer education.
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between SCA and KUFOS on initiatives that enhance understanding of seafood’s role in health, sustainability, and responsible consumption. The partnership will include research, capacity-building, and outreach activities designed to connect science, industry, and consumers across both nations.
Dr Daman Shrivastav, Deputy Chair of the Seafood Consumers Association, said the partnership is a significant milestone in the organisation’s mission to create informed and empowered seafood consumers worldwide.
“This agreement brings together two organisations with a shared vision of promoting sustainable and responsible seafood,” Dr Shrivastav said.
“KUFOS is an internationally respected leader in fisheries education and ocean studies. Working together, we can deliver joint research, education, and awareness programs that connect consumers, industry, and science in a meaningful way.”
“Under the MoU, SCA and KUFOS will collaborate on Consumer Research; Educational Initiatives; Sustainability; Seafood safety, traceability, and quality standards; Public awareness about seafood nutrition; Policy Engagement; Innovation and value-chain development; Events; Digital Integration; Public communication and consumer literacy programs.”
The partnership will also support conferences, joint publications, and projects that raise global awareness of seafood’s contribution to healthy diets and sustainable livelihoods noting Seafood Consumers Association involvement in the Aqua Horizons Singapore, 2026 which will focus on seafood consumption.
KUFOS Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) A. Bijukumar and Registrar, Prof. (Dr.) Dinesh Kaippilly jointly welcomed the MoU, noting that it aligns closely with KUFOS’s commitment to international cooperation and advancing the blue economy. They highlighted the importance of fish consumption has not been discussed with due seriousness in India as in the case of many developed nations. The national projects like the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India implementing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the recent operational guidelines of Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure of PMKSY through the Indian Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs have helped to increase the fish production and there should be efforts to increase the fish consumption too. Strengthening the bridge between academic knowledge, industry application, and consumer understanding through this MoU represents a key step towards UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Connecting Australia and India through the Blue Economy
The SCA–KUFOS collaboration highlights growing Australia–India engagement in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Both countries recognise the ocean’s vital role in food security, health, and climate resilience, and are investing in education and innovation to strengthen their blue economies.
Dr Shrivastav noted that the partnership goes beyond institutional cooperation.
“This is about people — fishers, farmers, consumers, and communities,” he said.
“Seafood connects us across oceans and cultures. Together, SCA and KUFOS can help ensure that seafood remains a healthy, sustainable, and trusted choice for generations to come.”
A joint working group will be established to identify short- and long-term priorities, including opportunities for student participation, research dissemination, and stakeholder engagement. The first collaborative initiatives are expected to commence in early 2026 and will likely feature at the Blue India Conference being held in Hyderabad 27-29 April 2026.
About the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS)
The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), established in 2010 and headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, is India’s first university dedicated to fisheries and ocean sciences. KUFOS leads education and research in fisheries management, aquaculture, seafood processing, and marine resource governance, contributing to India’s vision for a sustainable blue economy.
About the Seafood Consumers Association
The Seafood Consumers Association is an Australian registered nonprofit charity organization dedicated to empowering consumers through education, advocacy, and access to safe, sustainable, and nutritious seafood. SCA works to bridge the gap between industry practices and consumer needs while promoting transparency, safety, and sustainability throughout the seafood supply chain. Learn more at www.seafoodconsumers.global.
This partnership announcement reflects both organizations' commitment to improving global health outcomes through innovative education and sustainable nutrition practices.
Media Contacts:
KUFOS: Dean i/c, Faculty of Fisheries Science & Registrar, Dr Dinesh Kaippilly
Email: dineshkaippilly@gmail.com Phone: +91 9446032977
Seafood Consumers Association: CEO, Roy Palmer
Email: seafoodsdg@outlook.com Phone: +61 492825012
References:
2. https://seafoodconsumers.global/