Will increase efforts to establish fisheries university at M'luru, says Min Kota Srinivas

Mangaluru: District in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary said that he will increase his efforts to pressurise the government on the establishment of a fisheries university in the city.

His statement comes after Bidar’s Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFS) expressed negative reactions to the proposal of upgrading the Mangaluru-based College of Fisheries to a university.

“The College of Fisheries has already sent a protest letter condemning the KVAFS attitude,” Poojary said.

The College of Fisheries is 53 years old and was the first such institution in the country. But now Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra have set up fisheries universities and have colleges affiliated to them. Odisha and Telangana too have released a notification to set up a fisheries university. Although Karnataka has the second largest coastal area in the country, it ranks 9-10th in aquaculture. Despite the abundance of opportunities for fisheries lack of development on the State’s coast and the lack of incentives has made the State fall below expected achievement,” the minister said.

The College of Fisheries is affiliated with the KVAFS in Bidar. KVAFS is unable to focus much on fisheries, as it also involves in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine. In view of all this, the College, with a lot of land in its possession, can be upgraded to a university. A proposal to the government was sent in October 2020 for the establishment of the university. But KVAFS rejection of it stating that a fisheries university is not needed here caused outrage among the teachers and students of the College. KVAFS has also not yet responded to the protest letter we sent, sources from the College said.

“There is a need for a fisheries university to work on behalf of the fishermen and fisheries and it should be established in Mangaluru. Four other colleges will be affiliated with it and will undertake development programs related to fisheries. Along with Fisheries Minister S Angara, we will put pressure on the government for this end,” Poojary said.