Department of Fisheries Biology
Department of Fisheries Biology is the Mother department of Fisheries since it touches almost all the aspects of fisheries science more or less. In keeping with the time, however, the department has updated itself with new subjects and streams to cater for the demands in the fishery sector. The change of emphasis is in the direction of starting Post graduate courses in Fisheries Biotechnology and Fisheries Resources Management.
U.G. Laboratory & Museum
The department has a spacious laboratory for conducting the U.G. practicals. The laboratory can accommodate about 25 students at time.
A well arranged museum has been maintained by the department. Preserved specimens of Fresh water, Brackish water and Marine fishes, shellfishes and other aquatic animals are displayed here. The museum has recently acquired taxidermy specimens of some aquatic animals. The museum has been attracting students as well as tourists.
The department is conducting all the UG courses assigned to it as per the new syllabus laid down by ICAR. Students are taken for field collections, visits and tours etc. as per the demand of the courses.
The department has already started PG courses, initially in Fisheries Biology stream and then in the disciplines of Fisheries Resources Management and Fisheries Biotechnology. After the upgradation of these two disciplines, the strength of the students has been increased to six. So far 34 students were awarded the M.F.Sc. degree from the department of Fisheries Biology. Since 2012-13, the department has started Ph.D. (Fisheries Resources Management) with intake capacity of 1. So far 1 student was awarded Ph.D. degree from this department.
Apart from some collaborative research work conducted, the department has to date completed nine research projects of which two are externally funded. Department has many recommendations approved by the Joint AGRESCO to its credit. Two externally funded projects are currently going on.
The departmental research work addresses some major areas of importance or concern such as biodiversity assessment, clam resources, mud crabs, specimen preservation and surveillance of White Spot Disease (WSD) in shrimps.
The department has conducted various extension program for the fishermen, fish farmers and also for school students. Awareness programs pertaining to Endangered aquatic species, monsoon ban on fishing, freshwater prawn farming etc. were conducted by the department in campus as well as at Harnai, Guhagar, Vengurla, Malvan, Purnagad, Adiware, Mirkarwada and Karla villages.
The department has a total teaching staff of eight members under the designations of : a) Professor & Head (1), b) Associate Professor (2), c) Assistant Professor (5). The Professor & Head, both the Associate Professors and two of the Assistant Professors have obtained their doctorate degrees. The staff members have already upgraded themselves in the emerging fields of Fisheries Biotechnology and Fisheries Resources Management by undergoing various trainings, seminars and workshops.
