Amet University, a city-based maritime training institute, has started a diploma programme in ‘fisheries engineering’ exclusively for youth from fishing community to train them in better fishing techniques as well as boat construction and maintenance.

Nearly 35 students from fishing hamlets located along the East Coast Road have joined the first batch that began 15 days ago, Vice-Chancellor G Thiruvasagam told BusinessLine .

Tie-up with INCOIS

The six-month course for those who have passed or dropped out of higher secondary is conducted in collaboration with the Indian National Centre for Ocean and Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The curriculum includes evolving and improving fish processing techniques, avoiding wastage of fish, designing fishing crafts, fishing gears and fishing traps and using gadgets in navigation, sea safety and fishing.

The university has designed the course content while training is being given by the faculty of both Amet and INCOIS. Students are taught in both English and Tamil, but exams will be in English, he said.

The programme was mooted based on a survey in the fishing hamlet Kanathur, which the university has adopted for socio-economic development programmes.

Out of the nearly 450 families, a number of persons were higher secondary school drop-outs unable to continue education due to various reasons, including lack of finance.

Advanced techniques

The survey showed many young fishermen were interested in pursuing studies on fishing and applying advanced techniques to get maximum yield; to learn construction and modern designing of boats and maintenance; to know about climatic conditions while going fishing; and to identify locations where they would get a good catch, he said.

The university collects ₹100 for the application and does not charge any fees for the course.

It plans to approach the National Skill Development Corporation for support to the programme, said Thiruvasagam.

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