Fisheries education has been in the informal domain longer than other agricultural sciences and even the formal education in the initial years was largely about imparting skills related to capture fisheries. In India, successful induced breeding of the Indian major carps by Chaudhuri and Alikunhi in 1957 marked an indelible milestone on the food-fish domestication map and today Indian aquaculture comprises of 37 finfish and 8 shrimp species, although some of these species are yet to be completely domesticated.
After being established as a training centers in 1961 to train the officers of State Fisheries Departments and empowering them with the knowledge of the sector; the institute was conferred Deemed University status and became the first National Fisheries University offering Masters and Doctoral programs with a centralized entrance exam and the students community is representative of mini - India with perfect setting for a seat of higher learning and cultural exchange. The institute provided an ideal setting for overseas students from neighbouring countries viz. Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nigeria, Eritrea, etc.; their number is increasing every year. Recent years have also witnessed increased participation of CIFE students in international events and this trend is best encouraged by forging new ties, MoUs, student exchange programs and sandwich degrees for which interaction provides an ideal opportunity.
Fisheries take the third position in the nation's drive for self-sufficiency in food, and India's most high value shrimp production systems are export oriented and need to be compliant to international standards. Inspecting compliance to the specific standards of every importing country is an emerging aspect of the Economy. There also exists the possibility of enhancing indigenous consumption of fish through better availability of processed frozen fish products and other ready to eat items in supermarkets. This too presents a scope for future entrepreneurs. Such lucrative opportunities of employment, self or otherwise, must be highlighted to attract talented and dynamic students to this sector. Success stories of alumni currently owning their own enterprises and interaction with them can be structured into the curriculum for retaining graduates in the sector. Further, more meaningful tie-ups with the Industry are the need of the hour for reorienting higher fisheries education.
With its eye on the future, CIFE has expanded its range of specializations and currently offers Masters and Doctoral degrees in 11 disciplines. Several of these specializations are being taught only as courses under a broader discipline, at almost all institutions of higher fisheries education across the world and the student might get an opportunity to delve deeper into these areas only during doctoral research. In addition, in several countries including India, faculty and students of the overarching discipline of Zoology are contributing significantly to basic research in fish taxonomy, biology and physiology. It would be particularly interesting to learn how various countries attract talent and promote entrepreneurship in the fisheries sector, and how they can shape their curricula to cater to job opportunities beyond their own borders. This would be a most desirable scenario for cultural exchange and closer ties among the countries, hopefully leading to a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable economy in the region.