Fisheries Science
Fisheries Science is an academic field of understanding and managing fisheries resources. It is a multidisciplinary subject that encompasses the biological study of breeding, habits and life of different species of fish. It also includes husbandry and farming of essential aquatic and fish organisms in freshwater, marine environment and brackish water. Fishery as the name suggests is an organized effort that is pertaining to the capturing of fish inclusive and inland, sea or other aquatic species.
It is related to catching inland and marine fishes for commercial purposes. It involves aquaculture, gears, navigation, oceanography, aquarium management, breeding, processing, export and import of seafood, special products and by-products , research and related activities.”
A career in Fisheries Science will create modern fishermen, breeders, traders, exporters, farm managers and aquaculturists. The main aim of fishery science is making the much required technically competent extension personnel available for transferring technology. Fishery science courses can enable a person to execute fisheries development plans and even for development of such plans.
Fisheries courses promise the most significant aspect as enlightening the students with the study of ecological factors that can adversely affect the availability of fishes, and the great significant role played by the fishes in maintaining the biological balance. The vast extended coastline of India has made it a hub of the courses for fishery science. Also it has been successfully enlightening the students, building their career and protecting the ecology.
Courses
There are multiple levels of courses available in the field of Fisheries and some important graduate, post-graduate programs offered are given below.
BFSc/ BSc Fisheries
Bachelor of Fisheries Science or Bachelor of Science in Fisheries is an undergraduate course with 4 years duration.
This course offers the candidates with basic knowledge in the three categories of fisheries science namely post harvest technology, culture and capture technology. This course provides training to students on different subjects like freshwater and inland aquaculture, mariculture, extension, ecology, environment, pathology, fish nutrition, post harvest technology, fish processing and industrial fisheries. The course also contains practical experience on aqua farms, processing plants, data collection and fishing, etc
Major areas of specializations include management of fishes, scientific breeding and sustainable fish production practices.
MFSc/ MSc Fisheries
Master of Fisheries science (MFSc) or Master of Science in Fisheries (M Sc Fisheries) Is a postgraduate program in the Fishery science field with a duration of two years.
The course deals with the study of administration and catching, processing and marketing and conservation of Fish and related products. The MFSc program can be considered as the interdisciplinary field related to the areas of Management, Economics, Oceanography and Biology etc.
Followings are some of the specializations in Fisheries science at PG Level.Aquaculture
- Aquatic Animal Health
- Aquatic Environment Management
- Fish Biochemistry & Physiology
- Fish Biochemistry & Physiology
- Fish Biotechnology
- Fish Genetics & Breeding
- Fish Nutrition & Feed Technology
- Fish Processing Technology
- Fisheries Economics
- Fisheries Engineering & Technology
- Fisheries Extension
- Fisheries Resources Management
- Post-Harvest Technology
After passing this course, students can go for research work or can go for further studies such as M.Phil / Ph.D degree.
PhD Fisheries
PhD Fisheries Science is a 3-year duration doctoral level course. It has been designed for candidates who want to participate in the development of new fisheries science knowledge. During the course applicants will gain empirical skills through coursework while developing their theoretical understanding through superintend research. Candidates will also be introduced to the depth of the field of fisheries science through lab meetings, reading groups and guest lectures.
Required Skills and Aptitude
The skills and aptitudes required for a career in the Fisheries field include the following.
- Committed
- Dedicated
- Good managerial skills
- Hardworking
- Innovative
- Inquisitive
- Interest in marine life
- Patient
- Problem-solver
- Research-oriented
Eligibility Criteria
It is required for a science background to pursue a course in Fisheries.
BFSc/ BSc Fisheries
The eligibility criteria for the course demands that an individual must have passed 10+2 or its equivalent from any of the recognized universities or board, with a science background.
The eligible candidates are selected to the bachelor course in Fishery Science through the entrance exam. The exams are conducted at university level or state level or national level.
MFSc/ MSc Fisheries
A candidate having aggregate of 60% marks in the bachelor’s examination either in the fisheries science or in zoology discipline can apply for the MFSc program. Only the qualified candidates in the entrance test are eligible for taking the MFSc degree.
PhD Fisheries
Admissions to Ph.D are done through entrance exams and interviews conducted by individual universities. Candidates those who have qualified their postgraduate program in Fisheries or qualified an M.Phil. degree or any equivalent examination with minimum aggregate marks of 50% and above are eligible for admission to the program. Those candidates who have completed GATE/NET/SET/ M.Phil/JRF Examination in the pertinent subject of the apex bodies as CSIR/UGC/ICAR/ICMR/DBT will be exempted from the Entrance Test.
Entrance Examination
BFSc/ BSc Fisheries
Some of the entrance exams are as follows:
- ICAR- AIEEA UG
- Junagadh Agricultural University Entrance Test
- Karnataka Common Entrance Test
- Maharana Pratap University Graduate Test
- Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology Common Entrance Examination
In Kerala admission for BSc Fisheries Science based on CEE prepared KEAM Rank List based on NEET Score.
MFSc/ MSc Fisheries
Some of the entrance exams are as follows:
- Indian Council for Agricultural Research combined entrance test, ICAR AIEEA (PG)
- Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology Common Entrance Examination
- Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth Common Admission Test
- Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS)
- Junagadh Agricultural University Entrance Test
- Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies Common Entrance Test
- Maharana Pratap University Pre Post graduate Test
PhD Fisheries
Some of the entrance exams are as follows:
- Indian Council for Agricultural Research, CAR AICE-JRF/SRF (PGS)
- Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) PhD Entrance Exam
Job Profiles
Some of the job profiles in the field of Fisheries are as follows:
- Aquaculture Technician
- Fish Breeder
- Fish Exporter
- Fish Farming Consultant
- Fish Trader
- Fisheries Development Officer
- Fisheries Scientist
- Lecturer
- Marine Biologist & Marine Scientist
- Research Assistant
- Running of one’s own fish farm
- Specialist Fisheries Officer
Top Recruiters
Fishery Science is a field that offers a wide range of career avenues and fishery experts can find job opportunities both in public sector and private organizations. Followings are some of the firms where jobs for Fishery experts are available:
- Central Government Fishery Departments
- Central Marine Research Institutes
- Coastal Aquaculture Authority of India (CAA)
- Coastal Department
- Export Inspection Agency ( EIA)
- FAO and WHO
- Fisheries Start-ups.
- Fisheries Survey of India (FSI)
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Indian National Centre for Ocean and Information Services
- Institutes
- Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA)
- Marine Research Institutes
- NABARD
- National Institute of Oceanography
- Nationalized Banks
- Processing plants
- State Government Fishery Departments
- Universities
Institutions
| Institutions offering BFSc/ BSc Fisheries in India |
|---|
| Institutions offering MFSc/ MSc Fisheries in India |
|---|
Foreign institutions/universities for PG programs:
There are lots of opportunities for students who wish to pursue their master degree in fisheries science abroad. Many universities and colleges provide masters degrees in fishery science and those students who are financially sound can do their further studies in Canada, USA, UK, Australia etc.
A master’s degree in fisheries makes the students aware of the issues and problems related to fishing and aquatic resources worldwide. They develop skills which are necessary to manage and undertake research in the related area.
Students need to qualify the entrance examinations along with language tests like TOEFL and IELTS for getting admission in foreign universities. The minimum requirement for a student to apply for the master’s degree in fisheries is a bachelor’s degree in fisheries or zoology or related subjects. Students need to check the websites and apply well in advance as per notifications.
Followings are some of Colleges Offering Master of Fisheries Science:
| Institutions offering PhD Fisheries |
|---|
Questions & Answers
Q) What is the career scope of Fisheries study?
A) There are numerous career opportunities in government and the private sector. Aspirants can go for entrepreneurship or self-employed in their own fisheries-related business. Every state government has a fisheries department with various posts. Also oopertunities in central government agencies like Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Fisheries Survey of India (FSI), NIO, WHO, and many others. Candidates can find the number of job opportunities in institutions, banks, fishing/oceans and in foreign countries.