The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) is a research institute located in Kochi, Kerala, India. It functions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. CIFT is the only national centre in the country where research in all disciplines relating to fishing and fish processing is undertaken.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Type | Research institute |
| Parent body | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) |
| Location | Willingdon Island, Kochi, Kerala, India |
| Field | Fisheries technology, fish processing, fishing gear |
| Country | India |
CIFT was established to address the technological needs of India's capture and post-harvest fisheries sector. The institute conducts research and provides advisory services on the design and construction of fishing vessels and gear, the handling and preservation of fish, processing and product development, quality assurance, and the engineering of fishery byproducts. Its headquarters is on Willingdon Island in Kochi, with research centres and field stations in other parts of the country.
The institute's work spans several broad disciplines:
As India is among the largest producers and exporters of fish and fishery products in the world, CIFT plays a central role in supporting the seafood industry through technology transfer, certification support, and consultancy. The institute also offers postgraduate research programmes leading to doctoral degrees in collaboration with affiliated universities, and contributes to policy formulation in the fisheries sector.