1800s
1890
Mid-1800s: Sardine oil exports from Malabar reach £7,000/year.
West Coast dried fish and sardine oil trade peaks, with exports toCeylon and SE Asia.
Fisheries Department established in Madras Province.
1907
Marine Biological Station
established in Calicut.
1921
Dept. of Marine Biology & Fisheries,
University of Travancore, is founded.
1938
ABAD Fisheries founded in Kochangadi, Cochin. Among the earliest organized seafood exporters in Cochin, exporting sun-dried shrimp to Burma
1931
Central Marine Fisheries Research Station (CMFRS) established in Madras
1947
1950
Cochin identified as an ideal
seafood export hub for investment in Infrastructure & mechanisation
First frozen shrimp export from
Cochin to the USA.
1953
Indo-Norwegian Project (INP)
launched and expanded to Cochin
1955
2nd Five-Year Plan prioritizes Cochin’s offshore fishing, ice plants, and cold storage.
1956 -61
1957
CMFRI and INP collaborate on
oceanographic research from Cochin.
Larger companies like ABAD begin investing in freezing infrastructure, setting stage for 1961 frozen export milestone.
1961
Mandatory pre-shipment
inspections begin under EIC.
1965
-
Export volumes cross 60,000 tonnes; Cochin leads the growth.
-
CIFT innovations bring advanced freezing, canning, and treatments to Cochin.
-
Japan and the US emerge as key frozen shrimp markets.
-
Seafood Exporters Association of India established
1970s
CIFT, CMFRI, CIFNET, MPEDA and EIC
continue to operate from Cochin. Willingdon Island and Mattancherry become key
institutional zones; and Cochin hosts major fisheries summits and international councils.
1980s onward
By 2023, India’s seafood exports had grown eightfold since 2002, reaching over USD 8 billion. Cochin remains central to this growth, home to both legacy exporters and leading research institutions, reinforcing its foundational role in the industry.
View of fisheries harbour, Source: Marine Fisheries
Information Service, 1988
Central Marine Fisheries Research Substation at Calicut ,
Source: Fisheries of West Coast of India, 1958
View of Kochangadi Road
Kerala University
Polyethelene-lined culture farms,
Source: Marine Fisheries Information Service, 1987
Madras Harbour
Cochin Harbour, Post Card 1947
Source: Past India
Chinese Fishing Nets , Fort Cochin
Source: Archive.org
Feed fish being stored into one of the insulated vans
Source: Archive.org
Prime Minister observing a work at headquarters
Source: Archive.org
State of the Art Cold Storage Facilty at ABAD
Source: ABAD Archives
Fish, prawns and crabs harvested
Source: Marine Fisheries Information Service, 1987
View of container ship carrying cargo for export
