मछली पालन से मत्स्य उद्यमिता की ओर: बिंदूर, कर्नाटक स्थित फ्रेश फिश मार्ट का क्षेत्र भ्रमण
From Fish Farming to Fisheries Entrepreneurship: A Field Visit to the Fresh Fish Mart at Byndoor, Karnataka
A field visit was conducted to the Fresh Fish Mart at Byndoor, Udupi, Karnataka, an emerging fish marketing enterprise established by Shri Lakshman, a progressive fish farmer and cage-culture entrepreneur from Maravanthe. During the visit, Dr. Sreekanth G. B., Senior Scientist, ICAR–CCARI, Goa, interacted with Shri Lakshman and reviewed the progress and operational aspects of the enterprise. The Fresh Fish Mart represents a value-added fisheries entrepreneurship initiative aimed at improving access to quality fish through organized marketing of captured and cultured fish in fresh, chilled, frozen, and live forms. The enterprise provides consumers with a diverse range of fish and shellfish products while creating an additional market outlet for farmed and capture fisheries production. The initiative demonstrates the potential for integrating fish production with direct marketing and value addition to enhance income opportunities for fish farmers. During the interaction, discussions focused on fish sourcing, handling, preservation, product diversification, market demand, hygiene, and opportunities for strengthening the enterprise. The successful transition of Shri Lakshman from fish farming and cage culture to fish marketing entrepreneurship highlights the importance of integrating production, value addition, and market-oriented approaches within the fisheries sector. Technical guidance and institutional support from ICAR–KVK, Brahmavara, Department of Fisheries, Government of Karnataka, and ICAR–CCARI, Goa, have contributed significantly to strengthening his aquaculture practices and fish marketing activities. The Fresh Fish Mart serves as a promising model of integrated fish farming, value addition, and market-linked fisheries entrepreneurship, with potential for replication among coastal farming communities to enhance livelihood resilience, employment generation, and economic returns from fisheries.