Fisheries education in India started with the opening of the Fisheries College at Mangalore in 1969. Other States followed suit and now there are 16 such institutions in the country. Fisheries science is a multi-disciplinary programme that involves subjects such as fisheries biology, aquatic environment, biochemistry, microbiology, aquaculture, fisheries engineering, fisheries economics and statistics, and fish processing.Those interested in the field can take up B.F.Sc. (Bachelor of Fisheries Science), a four-year (eight semesters) degree programme after PUC with PCMB combination or its equivalent. Those aspiring for higher studies can go for M.F.Sc. (Master of Fisheries Science), a two-year (four semesters) programme, and eventually Ph.D.

The B.F.Sc. is offered in 16 fisheries colleges belonging to the respective State agricultural/animal and veterinary universities or central agricultural universities. Some of these colleges also offer Master's and Doctoral programmes in selected disciplines. In Karnataka, degree programmes are offered only at the College of Fisheries, Mangalore, a constituent college of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar.

Job opportunities

The career prospects for fisheries graduates are quite promising. The demand for trained and skilled personnel surpasses supply as the number of graduates in this field is limited. Fisheries graduates have opportunities as administrators in the State and Central government fisheries departments; scientists and teaching faculty in research and educational institutes; and marketing professionals, agribusiness managers, quality inspectors, technologists, and consultants in a wide range of agriculture and allied government and private organisations. They can also set up their own enterprises such as fish processing and export aquaculture farms and ornamental fish industries.

Fisheries graduates can also take IAS, IPS and KAS examinationsSeveral alumni of the different fisheries colleges in the country have already joined the IAS and IPS cadre. Fisheries Science has been included as one of the optional subjects for KAS examinations by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).

The four-year fisheries course under trimester/semester is designed in such a way that it includes basic science and humanities besides a wide variety of subjects in fisheries science.With this background, fisheries graduates can pursue higher education in molecular biology, biotechnology, business management, microbiology, genetics and breeding.

Many national and international institutes provide fellowships and scholarships for Master's and doctoral degree programmes. A number of graduates from the fisheries colleges are pursing higher studies in diverse fields.The admission process for B.F.Sc. in Karnataka begins normally after the announcement of PUC results, generally in May-June every year, with the university notification in leading newspapers.