Fisheries College to promote fisheries sector

Ludhiana, May 16 (UNI) With a views to promote fisheries sector through integrated teaching, research and extension programmes, a College of Fisheries has been established at the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University ( GADVASU ) here.

This is the first such college in North India which will also cater to the job demands in the fisheries sector.

The motive behind establishing this college was felt as Punjab has made tremendous growth in inland fisheries in the last three decades. Fish production and area under fish farming has increased more than 30 times since 1980-81.

Around 70 per cent of total fish production in the state is from culture and the remaining comes from the rivers and other water bodies. The state has a vast network of natural water resources including 17,543 km of rivers and canals and 23,000 hectare of reservoirs/wetlands/lakes which constitute a significant fish resource.

However, the fisheries sector has not been tapped due to lack of scientifically skilled human resources. Hence, the fisheries college with a well experienced faculty, well equipped research and teaching laboratories was set up.

A 10-acre fish farm, besides carp and cat fish hatcheries are avaliable for research work at the fisheries college. Being the first college of its kind in north India, it will cater to R&D and HRD requirements not only of Punjab but also of the neighbouring states.

The motive behind setting up this college it to develop scientifically skilled resource personnel for teaching and research by imparting comprehensive, quality and in-depth education and training.

The college also aims at developing technically competent extension workers for transfer of technology to the farmers, entrepreneurs and industry through trainings, consultancy and demonstrations.

The college will offer four-year Bachelor of Fisheries Science (BFSc) and two year Masters in Fisheries Science (MFSc).

Fisheries is a rapidly growing industry and a student with a professional degree in this discipline will find many job opportunities in the government and private sectors.

The students can find jobs in central agencies like Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Fisheries Survey of India (FSI), World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia Pacific (NACA), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developments (NABARD) and Krishi Vygyan Kandra (KVKs).

Fisheries graduates have ample scope for employment as consultants, extension specialists or planners. Also there is scope for higher education in the US, Canada, China,Australia, Japan and many European countries a great demand for aquaculture professionals in Gulf and African countries.

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