Photo Gallery

News and Events

“Interaction meeting with Fishermen Community” : 11.11.2020 at Fisheries College, Mangaluru

At a meeting with fishermen representatives at the college on Wednesday, 11-11-2020, Dean A. Senthil Vel said that the college has collected scientific data, which includes information on the contour of the channel, the extent of capital dredging (dredging done once) and maintenance dredging required, and the place where silt can be deposited.
There was a presentation by Dr. Lakshmipathi M.T., Head, Department of Aquatic Environment Management, regarding the issue of accumulation of silt in the 80 m wide bar mouth.

Agreeing with the suggestion of fishermen representatives, Mr. Vel said that the college will propose dumping of dredged material on an island located 40 m from the bar mouth.

CoFM visits NITK, Surathkal to discuss the modernization of Aquaculture ponds at college’s farm site on 7 February 2020

A team from CoFM visited National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal to discuss the Modernization of Research and Instructional Fish Farm with new Aquaculture technologies to be set up at CoFM.

Professor & Head Dr. Amba Shetty, Dr. Pruthviraj and Mr. Ramesh of the civil department of NITK, Surathkal drafted a tentative outline of the project plan including all the possible components essential to build a research and instructional fish farm at CoFM. A MoU between NITK and KVAFSU will be signed shortly.

Independence Day Celebration 2020

IMPACT OF LOCKDOWN ON FISHING COMMUNITY

The lockdown on account of COVID-19 pandemic has had serious adverse impact on the fishing communities all over the country. The most affected are the traditional fishing communities and the women folks who depend upon fishing for their livelihood and sustenance. In view the above livelihood issue, College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, which is one of the premier institutes in the country in fisheries Sciences, undertook field survey of the fishing port in Mangaluru. The team headed by Dr. Shivkumar Magada, Professor and Head, Department of Aquatic Environment Management made a quick survey along with the colleagues Dr. Lakshmipathi and Dr. Annappaswamy. As a first part of the excise the above team visited fish landing centre at Old Port fish landing centre, Mangaluru.

The landing centre, once was a buzzling place with around 20,000 to 30,000 people at any given time during the normal fish landing period was completely empty. The landing centre harbors around 1,337 trawl boats, 57 purse seiners, 1,420 motorized boats and around 534 traditional boats. In Dakshina Kannada district, around 1.5 lakh people are engaged in fishing and fisheries related activities that are directly or indirectly connected to the landing centre. Some of the people are engaged in direct fishing, while some are engaged in post harvest process such as cleaning, washing, icing, ice making, pickling, fish drying, marketing etc. The Bunder port not only engages people from the Dakshina Kannada but also the fishermen communities from neighboring states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu and also for away states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh etc.

However, since late March there has been a complete ban of any kind of fishing and other related activities due to COVID-19 pandemic. This lockdown has a serious impact on the livelihood of the communities and has been extremely harsh on the migrant fisherman and workers. The above team had a detailed survey of the area and interacted with the fishing communities who are stranded at the old port area. The team also examined the basic facilities that are available to these stranded workers. The team observed;

Around 400 – 500 migrant workers are standard in the old port. They hail from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. The old port has only 2 toilets, which are operational. Hence, these workers are forced to adapt open defecation in the sea or other isolated areas. These two toilets experience heavy rush during the morning hours. The team observed that private operator who has obtained it on auction from the Government operates these toilets. The private operator charges Rs. 5 for usage of the lavatory and Rs. 20 for bathing, washing etc. Hence they are forced to adopt open defecation and washing.
However, these migrant workers including the fishing community who are without job are under serious stress both mentally and economically. The migrant workers especially who are away from their families are facing agony and stress of separation.
It has been also informed that Boat Owners Association have are providing lunch and dinner for around 600-700 people/day.
It was also informed that the district administration have sensitized the fishing communities about the precautions to be taken with regard to COVID-19 and educated them. Till date there has been no report of any incidence at the old port.
The team also observed that due to non-fishing and non-operation of the port area the waters and the port is pretty clean. The water quality has improved in the port and no fish or diesel smell is emanating. The birds such as crows, sparrows, kites, which are to be plenty in the port area were found missing.
Lately, mid April the Government permitted operation of traditional fishing and also made fish and related activities allowed. This gave little breathing space to the fishing communities especially to fisherwomen. The team observed only few women fish vendors at the State Bank Fish Market. On enquiring, it was informed that their income levels has drastically reduced and are facing serious financial problems at home. The fish prices have also soared up because of limited of supply. The ‘Ladyfish (Shilago spp) was selling around for Rs. 1,200/kg, Anjal (Seer) Rs. 800/kg, Medium size shrimp Rs. 500-600/kg, Mackrel Rs. 350-400/kg and Betki (Sea Bass) Rs. 800/kg.

Based on the above information the discussions was held with the Dean Dr Senthil Vel and other faculty members and following are some of the measures that could be taken;

Fisheries experts suggest post-Covid measures

A group of fisheries experts has suggested some short-term and long-term activities to be taken up across various domains of the fisheries sector in the post-Covid scenario.

Shivakumar Magada, professor and Associate Director of Extension at College of Fisheries in Mangaluru, who hosted a webinar on ‘Strategies for managing fisheries and aquaculture sectors under economic slowdown following Covid-19 outbreak’ under the banner of Professional Fisheries Graduates Forum (PFGF), told BusinessLine that the webinar was organised by inviting fisheries professionals from different fields related to the fisheries sector to discuss and come out with suitable remedial measures and strategies to sustain this sector for the future. The deliberations focused on immediate intervention that need to be completed in 100 days, and short-term interventions that need to be completed in 300 days.

Processing and export

For processing and export sector, it suggested immediate interventions such as paid holiday for workers, identification of holding facilities, and regulation of harvest. It also suggested incentives and advance payments to the workers of processing plants, and fish and shrimp farms.

The short-term measures suggested included educating people on hygienic handing of fish and fisheries products, and interest-free loans to fishermen, and promotion of alternative livelihood activities.

For marine capture fisheries and brackish water aquaculture, the webinar suggested immediate measures such as food and shelter for workers till they resume fishing, and alternative livelihood activities.

Release of Golden Jubilee Symposium Brochure by Hon’ble Vice Chancellor on 2 March 2020

A symposium to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Celebration of CoFM is scheduled for March 14-16, 2020 at College of Fisheries, Mangalore. The symposium theme on “Addressing fishing community concerns in Integrated Coastal Zone Management:: an emerging challenge” is sponsored mainly by the World Bank through MoEF, Government of India. The event brochure mentioning the speakers, topics, participants sponsors etc. has been brought out and was released by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, KVAFSU at a meeting held at CoFM Mangalore.

CoFM visits NITK, Surathkal to discuss the modernization of Aquaculture ponds at college’s farm site on 7 February 2020

Coast Guards - Pollution Response Seminar cum Workshop on 20 February 2020

CoFM participated and delivered a talk on “Marine pollution and water conservation” in a Workshop conducted by Coast Guards Dist Headquarters - 3, New Mangalore. About 20 key speakers from various state and central departments were also present during the programme.

Farmer visit to college

Progressive fish farmer Mr Shivanna from Mandya visited the fisheries college on 27.01.2020 and shared his experiences with the students. He is earning more than 6.0 lakh per anum by rearing carp seeds in just 2 acres of land which is equivalent to the income that generates by growing paddy in 30 acres and sugarcane in 20 acres.

Release of "Flying Fish" newsletter third issue.

The third issue of quarterly newsletter "Flying Fish" was released by Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, KVAFSU on 25th January 2020 in Seminar Hall. University Librarian Dr. Gangadhara Gowda, Estate Officer KVAFSU Mr. Ramappa were also present for the release programme.

GJ Lecture series - “Shoreline Management Plan” on 13thJanuary 2020

A lecture on “shorelineManagement plan “was organised in the College Auditorium on 13-01-2020 as apart of Golden Jubilee lecture series. Dr. N. P.Kurian, Former Director,National Centre for Earth Science Studies, Trivandrum was the key speaker. Heis now a consultant in the Sustainable Coastal Protection and ManagementInvestment Programme. All the staffs and students attended the program.

PPT and Video Resources click here