07/05/2025
🤔Why Post-Harvest Handling is Critical in the Seafood Industry?
Post-harvest technology refers to the techniques and practices used to handle, process and preserve fish and shellfish after they are harvested. It plays a role in several stages of the seafood journey to our plates such as preservation, processing, packaging, storage, handling, transportation and marketing.
🧐But why is this so important?
🐟Seafood is a highly perishable product that can spoil quickly after harvesting. To maintain its freshness and quality until it reaches our plates, it is important to use effective post-harvest techniques.
🐟These practices based on scientific methods and it can extend the shelf life of seafood.
🐟As perishable products, seafood is highly susceptible to contamination by harmful microbes. Contaminated seafood can spread foodborne diseases to consumers, some of which can be fatal. Post-harvest techniques help reduce the risk of bacterial contamination, such as Salmonella and Vibrio.
🐟 Moreover, proper post-harvest handling minimizes waste caused by spoilage and damage, which in turn improves economic returns.
🐟Many international markets also require strict quality control and hygiene standards for seafood.
🐟Post-harvest practices help minimize physical, nutritional and quality losses that can occur during handling, processing, and packaging.
🐟They also contribute to seafood security.
🐟 Most importantly, effective post-harvest practices enhance seafood quality and build consumer trust. This not only impacts product quality but also contributes to higher economic income generation.
🐟These techniques also add value to seafood products. For example, dried seafood and Jaadi are processed and preserved for greater economic worth.
🐟Furthermore, preserving specific seafood products allows for availability during the off-season.
🐟Waste management and reduction are also important in the seafood industry. By-products from seafood can be converted into useful products, generating additional revenue.
In the next chapter. we will explore some post-harvest techniques.😊