Maharashtra state is endowed with a long coastline of 720 km, brackish water culturable area of 12,000 ha, fresh water resources in the form of reservoirs and tanks and lakes to the tune of 3.26 lakh ha. The wealth of natural resources distributed along the entire Statewas suitable for starting aquaculture venture in addition to traditional capture fisheries, operated along the seven districts, viz; Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Mumbai Suburb, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, collectively known as Konkan.

With the innovations in technology, development of modern equipment, perfection in fish processing technology, the traditional fishery was transformed into an export oriented industry. For the sustainable development of new sectors associated with fisheries, there was an urgent need of technically qualified and skilled manpower. Thus, College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri was established in 1981 under the flagship of Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Agricultural University, Dapoli by Government of Maharashtra.

In the span of last 36 years, the College of Fisheries has significantly contributed to the development of State as well as Indian fisheries. So far, about 881 B. F. Sc., 311 M. F. Sc. and 20 Ph.D. students obtained their degree from this college who belonged not only to Maharashtra, but also to different states of the country viz. Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Goa and the North eastern states. This important human resource of the state has been shouldering the responsibility as administrators, entrepreneurs & employers, academicians, technicians, managers, fish farmers and hatchery operators, fish exporters, quality control inspectors, bankers, aquarists with a professional dedication in their fields.

At present, the B.F.Sc. degree syllabus recommended by V Dean Committee has been implemented from the academic year 2017-2018. The courses indicated in the revised layout are distributed among the six departments viz. Aquaculture, Fish processing technology and microbiology, Fisheries Biology, Fisheries Engineering, Fisheries Hydrography and Fisheries Resources, Economics, Statistics and Extension Education. The post-graduate degree programme leading to M.F.Sc. is being implemented in nine disciplines viz. Fisheries Resource Management, Fish Biotechnology, Aquaculture, Fish Nutrition and feed technology, Aquatic Environment Management, Fish Processing technology, Fisheries Engineering and Technology, Fish Economics and Fisheries Extension. The Ph.D. degree programme in six disciplines, viz.Fisheries Resource Management,Aquaculture,Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology, Aquatic Environment Management, Fish Processing Technology, and Fisheries Extension has been already commenced. The college has strength of thirty-six academicians including four Professors, ten Associate Professors and twenty-two Assistant Professors; all catering to the educational, research and extension services of the college in different disciplines. The college is privileged to have twenty three academicians holding Ph.D. qualifications in different subjects of fisheries science and technology with few of them obtaining their Ph.D. from renowned international institutes.

The Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) facility has been commissioned at the college with ten computer machines having internet facility. Besides, the University also possesses fishing cum research vessel ‘MatsyaTaranginiTantrada’ , which is catering to the training and research needs of the students. This vessel was commissioned during the year 2011 and used for UG and PG students. The other indispensable assets include a wet-laboratory with live food culture, PG research facilities under the Department of Aquaculture; oceanographic water samplers, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, HPLC, Spray drier, water de-ionization system, STD meters, water testing kits, visible spectrophotometer under the Department of Fisheries Hydrography; an in-house fish museum, PCR unit etc under the Department of Fisheries Biology; a modern fish processing hall and fisheries microbiology laboratory, freezing, canning and vacuum packing machineries under the Department of Fisheries Technology; sea-worthy, navigational equipment under the Department of Fisheries Engineering and a computer laboratory and state of the art audio visual aids under the Department of Fisheries Resources, Economics, Statistics & Extension Education.

Considering the importance of fisheries in the state and Indian economy along with its wide scope for expansion, the Government of Maharashtra has initiated the base line research work along the Konkan coast through the establishment of Taraporevala Marine Biological Research Station at Mumbai and Marine Biological Research Station at Ratnagiri in the year 1951 and 1958 respectively. Later, in the year 1971, after establishment of Konkan Agricultural University, both research stations were transferred under the control of SAU to augment development in dollar earning sector. The noteworthy pioneer achievement of MBRS was mechanization of fishing boats and inspiration to traditional fisher folks to start a new era of commercial fishing along the Maharashtra coast. The initial base line survey on resources along the coast along with development of technologies for sustainable use was the prime knowledge base needed in the infancy of fisheries along Konkan coast. To strengthen the technology along with research, the both research stations were attached to College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri. At present, the research wing of the faculty consist of

1. Taraporevala Marine Biological Research Station, Mumbai.
2. Marine Biological Research Station, Ratnagiri
3. Kharland Research Station, Panvel, Dist. Raigad
4. Fisheries Research Centre, Mulde, Dist : Sindhudurg

These research stations are conducting various research programmes to cater the need of farmer in the entire State. The fresh water seed production unit with circular hatchery is established at Fisheries Research Centre, Mulde, while shrimp seed production unit at Marine Biological Research station, Ratnagiri, rearing facilities at instructional fish farm, Marine Biological Research Station, Ratnagiri and Kharland Research Station at Panvel are strengthened under the ELP programme which is funded by ICAR.