South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies

What South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies does

South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies (SIFFS) is a Non-Governmental Organisation registered in 1980 under the Travancore Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act of 1955, operating as the apex body of small-scale artisanal fish workers across eight districts of Southern peninsular India. It runs a three-tier cooperative structure of 153 village-level primary societies, district federations (Fishermen Welfare Society, Fishermen Welfare Federation Trivandrum, Kanyakumari District Fishermen Sangams Federation, and Nagapattinam District Fishermen Sangams Federation), and the apex body, serving over 9,104 member fishermen and more than 65,000 fish workers including non-members. Core service lines include boat building (five boatyards producing marine plywood boats since 1982 and FRP boats, including the Sea Dragon-44 launched in March 2019 and the 36 Feet FRP Stay Fishing Boat started in August 2023), outboard motor distribution and service as the country dealer for Suzuki marine products (18+ workshops across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and beyond), collective fish marketing through Fish Marketing Societies, micro-credit to over 2,500 clients including Joint Liability Groups of women fish vendors, R&D in fishing craft and propulsion, sea safety training, and the Fish Market Intelligence System monitoring nine wholesale markets and eleven landing centres.

Revenue mechanics combine hardware sales (boats and Suzuki OBMs), transaction fees on collective fish marketing through primary societies, interest on micro-credit (Vulnerability Reduction Facility loans at 6% on a diminishing basis), ice plant operations, and grant-funded programme income from partners including IFAD-PTSLP, NABARD, UNCTAD, FAO, BOBP-IGO, and IUCN. Pricing for boats and OBMs is not publicly disclosed and requires direct inquiry. The go-to-market motion is community-led: SIFFS leverages its cooperative structure to provide services to both members and non-members, while advocacy, publications, and partnerships with government bodies (Department of Fisheries, NFDB) and international organisations support policy influence across coastal South India. Technology assets include the proprietary F-MIS, Village Information Centres providing ICT access, internal custom packages for inventory and micro-credit tracking, and bio-toilet and FRP solar awning innovations for fishing communities.

Name

South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies

Legal name

South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies

Website

https://siffs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SIFFS is a Trivandrum-based NGO apex body serving small-scale artisanal fish workers across eight districts of Southern peninsular India through 153 primary societies, providing Suzuki outboard motors, marine plywood and FRP boat building, micro-credit, collective fish marketing, and sea safety programmes to over 65,000 fish workers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Fisheries Cooperative Services

NAICS

Ship and Boat Building (3366), Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)

akta.pro primary industry

Fishing Vessels (Trawlers, Longliners, Purse Seiners) (IMAJADAE)

Keywords

• Artisanal fisheries services
• Marine boat building
• Outboard motor distribution
• Fishermen cooperative services
• Marine fisheries development

Headquarters

HQ city

Trivandrum

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices27 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fish Marketing: Collective fish marketing through primary societies to liberate fishermen from middlemen and secure better prices. Primary societies handle beach auctions and sale to wholesalers, agents and export houses.
2. Outboard Motor Sales and Service: SIFFS is the country dealer for Suzuki marine products, importing and distributing OBMs and spare parts to beneficiaries at affordable prices. Revenue from sales and repair services through multiple workshops.
3. Boat Building and Repair: Manufacturing of different models of boats (marine plywood boats, FRP boats) and undertaking repair works through five boatyards. Provides boats at prices affordable to small-scale fishermen.
4. Micro-Credit Programs: Provides credit to members of Fish Marketing Societies and Joint Liability Groups of women fish vendors. Includes micro-credit, vulnerability reduction loans, and credit life insurance schemes.
5. Ice Plant Operations: Running of ice plants for ice supply to preserve fish catches during fishing operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SIFFS is the apex NGO federation of small-scale artisanal fish workers in South India, operating through a three-tier cooperative structure of 153 primary societies, district federations, and the apex body. It manufactures boats (marine plywood and FRP) at five boatyards, distributes Suzuki outboard motors through 18+ workshops, provides fish marketing, micro-credit, sea safety training, and research/documentation services to over 65,000 fish workers.

Product overview

South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies (SIFFS) is an NGO working in the Marine Fisheries Sector, serving as the apex body of small-scale artisanal fish workers. The organization operates through a three-tier structure with primary societies, district federations, and the apex body. SIFFS offers a comprehensive suite of products and services including Boat Building (marine plywood boats, FRP boats at multiple boatyards), Outboard Motors (Suzuki marine products as country dealer), Research & Development, Sea Safety programmes, Fish Market Intelligence System, Village Information Centres, Policy Research, Credit Programmes, and Ice Plants. The organization serves over 9,100 member fishermen organized through 153 primary societies in eight districts of Southern peninsular India, with over 65,000 fish workers availing services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boat Building Services Manufacture and supply of marine plywood boats and FRP boats through five boatyards (Veli, Vallavila, Enayam, Neendakara, Tharangampadi) for small-scale artisanal fishermen. Includes repair works and boat models such as Sea Dragon-44, 36 Feet Stay Fishing Boat, 32 Feet Sea Express, Nauka 37, and Kattumaram alternatives.
• Outboard Motors (OBM) Sales Sales and distribution of Suzuki marine outboard motors (2-stroke and 4-stroke models from DF2.5 to DF350A) and spare parts as country dealer for Suzuki marine products, targeted at artisanal fishermen.
• Fish Market Intelligence System (F-MIS) Market intelligence service monitoring wholesale fish markets in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, publishing fish price information from 9 markets and 11 landing centres to help fishermen organizations make business decisions on marketing.
• Sea Safety Programme Sea safety training, design and construction of safer boats, provision of quality OBM services, and distribution of sea safety kits with life jackets, life buoys, first aid boxes, radar reflectors, and safety videos for fishing communities.
• Village Information Centre (VIC) ICT-based information and communication centres providing computer training, awareness sessions, seminars, and facilitating community access to government services for fishing communities.
• Fish Marketing Services Collective fish marketing services to provide producer control over fish marketing, liberating fishermen from clutches of middlemen, merchants and money lenders. Operates 23 fish marketing societies serving coastal fishing villages handling beach auctions and sale to wholesalers, agents and export houses.
• OBM Service Centres Service centres and spare parts outlets for outboard motors, with locations including Karamana, Anjengo, Ambalappuzha, Nagapattinam, Colachal, Enayam, Kollam, Mangalore, and others across South India, providing maintenance and repair services.
• Micro-Credit Programme Micro-credit programme providing credit for asset replacement, with over 2,500 clients tracked. Includes micro-credit to FMS members, Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of women fish vendors, Vulnerability Reduction Loans at 6% interest (diminishing basis), credit life insurance, personal accident insurance, and health insurance schemes.
• FRP Ice Boxes Insulated FRP ice boxes in various capacities (100L, 460L, 475L) for fishermen to preserve fish and maintain catch quality.
• Sea Dragon-44 Fishing Boat A specialised 44-foot marine plywood fishing boat designed and developed by SIFFS for small-scale artisanal fishermen.
• 36 Feet FRP Stay Fishing Boat FRP-based 36-foot stay fishing boat built at Vallavilai boatyard, expanding SIFFS's range of fishing craft to include fiberglass reinforced polymer boats.
• Bio-Toilets for Fishing Boats SIFFS designed biotoilets for small fishing boats consisting of European closet with flush tank, hand shower and biodigester to improve on-board living conditions and prevent accidental falls overboard.
• Ice Plants Ice supply operations for fish preservation during fishing operations, supporting fishing communities in preserving catch quality.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,104 member fishermen organized into 153 primary societies with over 65,000 fish workers availing services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Suzuki Motor Corporation - Strategic MeetingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2024SIFFS hosted Suzuki Motor Corporation representatives including Shigeru Makinose (Group Manager) and team for strategic meeting on 5th February 2024 at Trivandrum to discuss marine product partnership.
• NFDB (National Fisheries Development Board)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024NFDB jointly organized Stakeholder Consultation for National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks with BOBP-IGO at the behest of Department of Fisheries.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023FAO collaborated with Ministry of Fisheries and BOBP-IGO to inaugurate International Conclave on Mainstreaming Climate Change into International Fisheries Governance. SIFFS participated with J. Vincent Jain, Deputy Chief Executive.
• XIM University BhubaneswarminorOthers · 1 July 2023One of 75 universities chosen by Ministry of External Affairs and RIS New Delhi to host G20 University Connect Engaging Young Minds. J Vincent Jain, Deputy Chief Executive SIFFS attended representing Fishing Net Maker.
• BOBP-IGO (Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023BOBP-IGO and SIFFS jointly organized National Consultative Workshop on BOBLME-II Project implementation. BOBP-IGO executes Phase II of Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project (2023-28) benefiting Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
• IUCNcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023International Union for Conservation of Nature jointly organized the National Consultative Workshop on BOBLME-II Project with BOBP-IGO and SIFFS.
• COVID Action Collab (CAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaborative initiative for implementing high impact interventions targeting fishers' communities during COVID-19 pandemic. Distributed 40 oxygen concentrators to hospitals across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, PPE kits, and conducted awareness programs.
• IFAD-PTSLPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010International Fund for Agricultural Development - Programme for Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka (IFAD-PTSLP) project provides support for livelihood enhancement programs, including formation of Joint Liability Groups for women fish vendors and micro-credit schemes.
• UNCTAD/MPEDA/SEAIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2008UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), and South Indian Aquaculture Science and Innovation (SEAI) funded the pilot phase of the Fish Market Intelligence System started in July 2008.
• Suzuki Motor CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1980SIFFS is the country dealer for Suzuki marine products, importing and distributing outboard motors (OBMs) and spare parts to artisanal fishermen across South India. The partnership enables affordable motorization of small-scale fishing craft.
• MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on fisheries development initiatives and market access programs for fish products.
• FIMSULminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFisheries Management and Sustainable Aquaculture initiative collaborated with KDFSF on development programs.
• Believers Eastern ChurchminorOthersSupported Okhi Relief Project by distributing FR (Fibre Reinforced) Boats to Okhi cyclone victims.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Suzuki Motor Corporation: Suzuki Motor Corporation is the Japanese marine products manufacturer for which SIFFS serves as the country dealer in India. The strategic relationship (renewed at a Trivandrum meeting on 5 February 2024) makes Suzuki both a critical supply partner and an adjacent peer in marine outboard motor distribution across South Asia.
• Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO): BOBP-IGO is an intergovernmental body serving Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka on small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihood development. It is an enabling partner/peer to SIFFS, having jointly organized the BOBLME-II National Consultative Workshop in 2023 and serving overlapping fisheries development mandates.
• International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF): ICSF is an India-headquartered international NGO that works on small-scale fisheries policy, social justice, and sustainable development. It is an adjacent thematic peer given shared focus on artisanal fishing communities, publications, and policy advocacy, though it does not operate boat-building or OBM distribution businesses.

Direct peers

• Matsyafed (Kerala State Cooperative Federation for Fisheries Development Ltd): Matsyafed is the Kerala state-level apex cooperative federation for fisheries, directly comparable to SIFFS as a cooperative federation serving small-scale fishermen in the same Kerala geography with overlapping services in fish marketing, credit, and welfare programs.
• Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation Limited (TNFDC): TNFDC is the Tamil Nadu state-owned fisheries development body that serves the same small-scale fishermen segments as SIFFS in Tamil Nadu's coastal districts, with overlapping fish marketing, training, and infrastructure development activities that make it a direct geographic peer.

Broad incumbents

• Cochin Shipyard Limited: Cochin Shipyard is India's largest public-sector shipbuilder, headquartered in the same Kerala geography as SIFFS. While it focuses on large commercial and defence vessels rather than artisanal fishing craft, it represents the broad incumbent shipbuilding capacity in the region and a potential large-scale competitor for marine engineering talent and contracts.
• National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB): NFDB is the Government of India apex body for fisheries development, working across all Indian states on production, infrastructure, and policy. It is a broad incumbent peer given SIFFS's recent NFDB co-organized stakeholder consultations on shark conservation and overlapping national-level fisheries development mandate.
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE): GRSE is a leading Indian public-sector shipbuilder with capabilities in both defence and commercial vessel construction. It represents a broad incumbent peer in the Indian shipbuilding industry that competes for marine engineering talent, government procurement contracts, and could potentially expand into smaller commercial fishing craft.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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