Deliberations on Pre-processing Practices Prevailing at the Sassoon Docks - report

ICAR-CIFT, Cochin and its Mumbai Research Center are working on a Consultancy Project, with Mumbai Port Authority on Methodology to Eradicate Foul Smell in Sassoon Dock and to Suggest Fish Waste Processing Technology. The project became operational in May 2023. A meeting ‘Deliberations on Pre-processing Practices Prevailing at the Sassoon Docks’ was jointly organized by Mumbai Research Centre, ICAR-CIFT, Vashi and Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA), Colaba in the forenoon on 9th November 2023 at the Conference Hall, Fishery Survey of India (FSI), Colaba. Dr. George Ninan presided over the meeting in the presence of Dr. A. Mattoo, Chief Engineer, Mumbai Port Authority and 30 other participants while Dr. Asha K K, Scientist in Charge and Principal Scientist welcomed the gathering and presented a report of the survey and scientific analysis carried out as part of the consultancy project.  Following the presentation, deliberations on the issues prevalent in the Sassoon Docks were held which was moderated by Dr. Asha. Thirty representatives from various organizations like Mumbai Port Authority, MPEDA, SEAI, FSI, EIA, NETFISH, ICAR-CMFRI, ICAR-CIFT attended the program. 

Details of the programme: 

Date: 9th November 2023

Venue: Conference Hall, Fishery Survey of India (FSI), Colaba

 Organizers: 1. Mumbai Research Centre, ICAR-CIFT, Vashi and 
                     2. Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA), Colaba

 Participants: 30 stakeholders

Representatives from various organizations like Mumbai Port Authority, MPEDA, SEAI, FSI, EIA, NET FISH, ICAR-CMFRI, ICAR-CIFT who attended the program

Dr. K.K Asha, Principal Scientist and Scientist In charge MRC, ICAR-CIFT welcomed the participants and briefed about the meeting. Presidential address was delivered by Dr. George Ninan, Director ICAR-CIFT Cochin. In his address he spoke about the consultancy work undertaken by ICAR-CIFT Cochin and MRC with Mumbai Port Authority. He talked about the importance of implementing basic facilities required to mitigate the foul smell in the Sassoon Docks. 

Shri. Ashok Prasanth Brijnath Mattoo, Chief engineer, MbPA addressed the session highlighting the problems faced by the peeling workers. This was followed by Report presentation on the consultancy project, MbPA -‘Methodology to Eradicate Foul Smell in Sassoon Dock and to Suggest Fish Waste Processing Technology’ by Dr. K. K.  Asha that included observations of baseline survey of the conditions currently prevalent in the Sassoon Dock area, methodology adopted for the study of microbiological and biochemical indicators of spoilage in shrimp, shrimp peel and the peeled product, results of analysis and suggestions and advisories to solve the problem. Presentation was followed by a short video presentation by ICAR-CIFT, Cochin on ‘Ideal Pre-Processing Facilities at Cochin, Kerala’.

Representatives from various organizations put forward their views on current pre-processing practices followed at the Sassoon Docks. Shri. Rustom Irani, National Vice President of SEAI suggested a basic template for management of the harbor. He suggested Mumbai Port Auhtority to constitute a body to implement the necessary practices. 

Dr. Girija Saurabh Behere, State Coordinator, NETFISH, Maharashtra suggested some workable solutions to avoid the dumping of raw product and peeling waste on the floor. Dr. Bindu, H.O.D, ICAR-CIFT, Cochin suggested utilization of secondary seafood waste for development of value added products like chitin and chitosan. 

Some of the points discussed were the following: (1) that the harbor should not be a place for processing of seafood, (2) Peeling workers should be provided with a rent free space for prawn peeling activity, (3) Mumbai Port Trust may provide this facility to the peeling workers, (4) there is a huge demand for fish processing waste for development of value-added products especially chitin & chitosan, but serious attention has to be paid to maintain hygienic practices, (5) MbPA may consider levying a nominal charge for allowing entry of man and material into the Dock premises as a part of the management of the Sassoon Docks, (6) examples of Munambam harbor in Kerala and Paradip harbor in Orissa were cited as model harbors which MbPA is urged to follow for a systematic transformation of the Sassoon Docks

The Session was concluded by the Director who stressed that it is imperative that all the concerned state and national agencies take definitive action appropriate to their roles to address the issues at the Docks that can help to foster a positive change. He expressed confidence that Sassoon Dock can be a model harbor, and the means to this achievement is through systematic implementation of some basic hygienic practices and urged all concerned local authorities to come forward to make the transformation of the Docks successful. Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Greeshma S.S, Scientist, MRC, ICAR CIFT and the program ended with the rendering of the National Anthem.