FISHERIES COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THOOTHUKKUDI

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES ENVIRONMENT

Objectives and mandate

• To offer courses in Fisheries Environment to BFSc and MFSc students
• To conduct research in fisheries environment such as water quality management in aquaculture systems, wastewater treatment, etc.
• To disseminate aquatic environmental issues and new techniques developed through radio talk, TV programmes, newspapers and magazines, brochures and extension books.
• To offer training programmes and to conduct awareness programmes for fisherfolk on marine biodiversity, conservation, endangered and threatened marine species etc.

Research

Ongoing Projects

1. Microbial treatment of wastewaters of seafood processing plants of Thoothukkudi
2. Distribution and seasonal variations of heavy metal in corals of Thoothukkudi coast
3. Impact of oil pollution on the distribution and biomass of plankton of Thoothukkudi coast.
4. Distribution of dissolved organic carbon and its influence on the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria in Thoothukkudi coastal waters
5. Assessing the use of polyphosphate as phosphatic fertilizer in brackishwater

Extension

• ICAR short course on “Techniques for the assessment of hydrobiological and sedimentary characteristics in aquaculture systems” is to be held in the third quarter of 2003.
• National level Training on “Water Quality Management in Aquaculture System” is to be held in September 2003
  

Salient achievements

• A low cost technology has been developed for processing wastewaters of seafood processing plants and disseminated for adoption.
• A methodology for breeding of ornamental fish such as angel fish, tiger barp and koi carp has been standardized.
• Status of heavy metal pollution and biomagnification process in Thoothukkudi coastal waters was investigated.
• A new method of pond fertilization with sodium tripolyphosphate was standardised.
• Nitrifying bacterial population of the coastal areas of Tuticorin was assessed to use the viable isolates as bioremediators in aquaculture systems.
• Biological treatment of sewage utilizing microalgae, duckweed and azolla was standardized.
• A low cost technology for vermiculture and culture of tubifix has been standardized for the benefit of aquarists.
  

Services Offered

• Technical services are being offered on water quality management in various aquaculture systems, and in the treatment of wastewaters/effluent of aquaculture, farms and seafood processing plant.
• Water, soil and waste water samples brought by farmers and from industries are analysed for different hydrobiological parameters on charge basis.

FACULTY

Dr. M.Venkataswamy, Professor and Head
Dr. N.Ramanathan, Professor and Head (AQU)
Dr. K.Riji John, Associate Professor
Dr. Baskaran Manimaran, Associate Professor
Dr. R.Raghavan, Associate Professor
Dr. A.Srinivasan, Associate Professor