CAREER OPTION FOR AQUACULTURE IN INDIA

Felix. S  
Fisheries College and Research Institute Tamil Nadu Fisheries University  Ponneri, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
felixtnfu@gmail.com  
 

Career options in aquaculture in India can be broadly classified under two major categories: Government and Private Jobs. In the government sector, jobs fall under three categories as education, research and training based institutes. In the education institutes, primary position is Lecturer/Assistant Professor, engaged in teaching, research and extension activities. Education institutes come under state agricultural universities (SAUs), Central agricultural universities (CAUs), and other state and centrally regulated technical and non-technical universities. The research institutes engage aquaculture professionals as scientist for performing research on different aspects of aquaculture. Research institutes are controlled by independent Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and other institutes controlled by Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Environment and Forests. In the training institutes, aquaculture professionals are engaged as subject matter specialists (SMS). These training institutes are run by SAUs, CAUs and ICAR as Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKS). In recent years, different ministries of Government of India also run training institutes. For example, National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training controlled by Ministry of Agriculture is operating in Cochin.

Private jobs fall under different categories as commercial finfish and shellfish farms, finfish and shellfish hatcheries, and ornamental fish farms and hatcheries. Aquaculture professionals are engaged as technician in these units. In addition, aquaculture based non-government organizations (NGOs) such as MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and Aquaculture Foundation of India (AFI) engage aquaculture professionals to promote aquaculture based livelihood programmes in coastal and inland areas.

In addition to government and private jobs, individual based establishment of business units are also promoted by the Government of India. Individual based business units are established as establishment of aqua-clinics, establishment of commercial finfish, shellfish, and ornamental farms, and establishment of hatchery units.

Presently, career options for aquaculture in India are very diverse and looking positive for the future, as different aquaculture based activities are promoted by the government of India.