Final year students of Bachelor of Fisheries Sc, (B.F.Sc) of College of Fisheries (COF), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) completed an All India Study Tour successfully under ‘Student Ready Program’, supported by Institutional Development Plan (IDP), National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP), ICAR
First phase was coordinated by Dr. Shanthanagouda A.H. and Dr. Sarabjeet Kaur. The students visited freshwater fish/shellfish hatcheries, selective breeding farm, Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), biofloc aquaculture and ornamental fisheries unit in ICAR- Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. For exposure to brackish water aquaculture activities, students visited Dr. M.G.R Fisheries College and Research Institute (Ponneri), TNJ Fisheries University, Feed Industry- C P Aquaculture (India) Pvt. Ltd., Muttukadu Experimental Station of ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) and Recreational Aqua Kingdom in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
For realistic manifestation of marine fisheries, fishing, processing and export, students visited ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training, Processing Plant-Geo Aquatic Products Pvt. Ltd., Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and fish landing harbors in Kochi, Kerala. During second phase of the tour Dr. Ajeet Singh and Dr. Grishma Tewari, coordinated and the students got an opportunity to experience sport fisheries and visit cold water lakes in Uttarakhand, with an educating excursion to GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar and ICAR- Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR), Bhimtal.
Dr. Meera D. Ansal, Dean, COF, informed that the study tour was designed to augment practical experience of graduating students in brackish, marine and cold-water fisheries related activities/industries, which are not available in Punjab for realistic training being a landlocked tropical/subtropical state. The students were enthralled to visit diverse aquatic resources, intensive aquaculture systems (RAS/Raceways/Aquaponics) and processing units; and have subject enriching interactive sessions with the experts, which has supplemented their professional cognizance, she added.
Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU said that such activities are promoted by the university to enhance professional competency of passing out professionals, with required exposure to national status and career/entrepreneurial opportunities in the livestock and fisheries sectors.
