3-day biofloc-based aquaculture training concludes at vet varsity

The College of Fisheries (COF), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, organised a three- days capacity building training programme on “Biofloc Aquaculture System” (BFAS) to promote climate smart intensive aquaculture in the northern part of the country.

As many as 15 stakeholders, including fish/shrimp farmers, aspiring entrepreneurs and students from various districts of Punjab and neighboring states participated in the training program, with notable participation of six women.

Dr Jatinder Paul Singh Gill, Vice Chancellor expressed that it is vital to adopt sustainable and resource efficient aquaculture production technologies to meet future production targets, addressing emerging challenges like climate change, depleting water resources and food safety. Such indoor, bio-secure and low volume aquaculture systems offer a way to produce safe food with minimal environmental impact, he added.

Dr Meera D. Ansal, Dean, COF informed that a Capacity Building Resource Centre (CBRC) for Intensive Aquaculture Technologies was established in the university under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), to cater increasing regional capacity building demand for intensive aquaculture technologies like recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS) and BFAS.

As compared to traditional pond aquaculture, the said climate smart, water saving and high yielding aquaculture technologies utilise only 10–15% of the water/land resources per kg of fish production, she added.

Dr Ravinder Singh Grewal, Director of Extension Education, addressed the trainees and acquainted them with various utility services offered by the university to the livestock, poultry and fish/shrimp farmers. Participation of young fish and shrimp farmers in the training indicates positive growth and prospective future of the fisheries sector, he added.