Malpe Meen Empowering Fisherfolk in Udupi with a digital platform for the fishing produce of Malpe

Empowering, Enriching & Enhancing the Fisherfolk Community at Malpe

Enjoy premium seafood from Malpe's fishing community. Our cooperative guarantees exceptional taste and freshness while supporting local fishermen and promoting sustainable practices.

Malpe Meen: Empowering Fisherfolk, Enriching Livelihoods, Enabling Sustainability

Malpe Meen is a producer-led collective committed to empowering the fisherfolk of Malpe by providing them with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to thrive. By ensuring direct market linkages, sustainable fishing methods, and access to innovative technology, Malpe Meen enriches the lives of the community, fostering financial stability and growth. The collective enables the fisherfolk to take charge of their livelihoods, preserving their traditional knowledge while embracing innovation. Together, we are building a future where the fisherfolk of Malpe are empowered, resilient, and prosperous.

The Need for a Producer Led Collective

Malpe is an important natural port about six kilometers to the west of Udupi in Karnataka and is a major fishing harbor with a population of about 60000. The Malpe Harbour generates between Rs. 5 to 8 crores in daily sales of fish produce, culminating in an impressive annual value of Rs. 2500 crores. This powerhouse of marine produce not only supplies a vast array of seafood across India but also reaches global markets, reinforcing its pivotal role in the seafood industry.

However, despite the high turnover, the community often sees minimal direct benefits due to intermediaries capturing most of the value in the supply chain. Challenges such as uncertain prices, volatility in demand and supply, in cities contribute to an uncertain future for the local fishing community.

Malpe's households are predominantly engaged in the fishing industry.

₹5 - ₹8Cr

Malpe's daily fish sales highlight its crucial role in the seafood industry.

Boats are engaged in fishing in the Malpe Harbour

Concept of Malpe Meen

Malpe Meen is a Cooperative Collective founded by the fisherman community of Malpe, aiming to create value for its members. This producer-led initiative focuses on maximizing value at the source, ensuring value retention within the community, and delivering a superior product experience to consumers.

Our Vision

Harnessing collective power, information and technology to create a blueprint for a thriving, resilient seafood supply while empowering India's fishing community

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Market potential for the seafood industry in India

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Indian homes transformed by the seafood industry

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This industry has impacted Food, Tourism, Sustainibility and Community.

Our Mission

Ensuring fresh & quality seafood through an innovative & robust business model to ever-growing Indian and export markets.

The Vision for Malpe Meen

Malpe Meen is a producer-led collective using technology to enhance value for the fishing community. It aims to direct better returns to producers, offering direct market access through a shared ownership model for equitable wealth distribution. The mission is to create a sustainable, community-driven model for economic, social, and environmental growth, helping Malpe families thrive and fostering extensive development opportunities.

The Charter for Malpe Meen

Malpe Meen intends to create a digital platform that would facilitate -

Direct market linkages for the fishing produce of Malpe

Better Value realization for the fish sellers of Malpe translating to higher and more stable incomes

Less wastage in the supply chain due to a better understanding of the demand for fish, through data driven analysis.

Better and optimized fishing practices with the help of satellite technology that helps identify schools of fish. This would result in a better catch and also minimize the uncertainity associated with a fishing expedition

Establish a template that can be used, not just by other fishing communities, but also for other products around which producer led collectives can be created

Malpe Meen emerges not just as a solution, but as a catalyst for growth, propelling the Malpe fishing community toward a future where digital adaptation is synonymous with growth and increased value creation.

The Core Founding Team

The initiative is spearheaded by four key community members: Shammi Malpe, Ravi Bangera, Lakshmeesha Karkera, and Prabhakar Kundar. They serve as the promoters of the company. Ravi Haldipur and Anup Pai of eSamudaay are the technology & business development partners, while Deepak Shenoy acts as an advisor, assisting in business structuring.

Sameer Moidin

Founder & Director

B.com & Diploma(Airlines & Travel), Fish Trader, 30 years of experience

With 25 years of experience in the fishing industry, Shammi has expanded UM Fisheries (established in 1974) and forged key partnerships, including an exclusive supply agreement with Atlas Fisheries in Goa.

Ravi Bangera

Co-Founder & Promoter

Fish Trader & Boat Owner, 30 years of experience in the industry

Ravi began his career as a boat helper and eventually started his own fishing company. He now supplies export factories and retail markets, with a strong presence in Bangalore.

Lakshmeesha Karkera

Co-founder & Promoter

Fish Trader & Boat Owner, 25 years of experience in the industry

Prabhakar G. Kundar

Co-founder & Promoter

Fish Trader, 20 years of experience in fishing

Ravi Haldipur

Founder & Director

BE, MBA(USA), 25 years of experience in multiple industries

Anup Pai

Advisor & Mentor

The Fishing Industry in India

India is a major player in global fish production, contributing significantly to the world's seafood supply. The country excels in both inland and marine fishing, with substantial marine product exports and a strong presence in global seafood markets. Efforts are underway to boost fish production and enhance the sector's infrastructure, supported by various government initiatives. India also ranks highly in aquaculture and fish production globally. Recent events, like the 'SagarParikrama' initiative in India, highlight ongoing efforts to address challenges in the fishing community and promote economic development.

India accounts for a significant share of the world's fish production.

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India’s total fish output for the fiscal year 2020–21.

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India’s marine product exports for the fiscal year 2020–21.

Indian government aims to increase fish production from 140 lakh tonnes to 220 lakh tonnes by FY 2025.

India has 191,024 km of rivers and canals, 1.2 million ha of floodplain lakes, 2.36 million ha of ponds and tanks, 3.54 million ha of reservoirs, and 1.24 million ha of brackish water resources.

India is the world's second-largest aquaculture nation and the third-largest fish producer after China.

The US accounts for 41.15% of Indian seafood imports, worth US$ 24.05 billion in FY 2020–21.

The Blue Economy Vision for Malpe Meen

The Blue Economy encompasses a wide range of economic activities pertaining to sustainable development of resources and assets in our oceans, rivers, water bodies and coastal regions.

The oceans have been providing the mankind with food, energy, maritime transport and recreation. They have also been supporting key planetary functions: producing half of the oxygen, absorbing one third of the carbon dioxide emissions, hosting close to ninety percent of biodiversity, water cycle and climate stabilisation. The oceans have been exceptionally generous to the mankind and can certainly continue to do so and much more. According to the UNSG, sustainable management could help oceans produce six fold more food and forty times more clean energy.