The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) set up in 1954 is the only national center in the country where research in all disciplines relating to fishing and fish processing is undertaken. The institute started functioning at Cochin in 1957. Research centers function at Veraval (Gujarat), Visakhapatnam (AP), Burla (Orissa), Mumbai (Maharashtra).
The institute functions with the following mandate:
To conduct basic, strategic and applied research in fishing and fish processing.
To develop designs for fuel efficient fishing vessels and fishing gear for responsible fishing.
To develop technologies for commercial isolation of bioactive compounds and industrially important products from fish and fishery wastes.
To design innovative implements and machineries for fishing and fish processing and pilot plants for facilitating commercialization of technologies developed.
To do advanced research in food safety in fish and fishery products.
To provide training and consultancy services in fishing and fish processing.
Administration
The Director with whom all the administrative and financial powers of the institute are vested heads the institute. A Senior Administrative Officer and Asst. Administrative Officers assist him in matters relating to general administration. Assistant Finance and Accounts Officers are looking after the financial and accounting aspects and also the internal audit of the institute. A technical officer attends to the technical matters including those connected with research projects handled by the institute. The Assistant Director (official language) heads the official language implementation section.
The research work at CIFT is carried by the following Research Divisions
Fishing Technology Division.
Fish Processing Division.
Biochemistry & Nutrition Division.
Quality Assurance & Management Division.
Engineering Division.
Extension, Information & Statistics Division.
Microbiology, Fermentation and Biotechnology Division.
