To regulate the use of drugs, antibiotics and chemicals in aquaculture, the Union Agriculture Ministry is planning to introduce pharmacology and toxicology courses in fisheries education, according to Dr K.M. Shankar, Dean of the Mangalore-based College of Fisheries.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, he said the aquaculture sector has been witnessing an annual growth rate of 6-8 per cent in the country. Aquaculture contributes nearly 50 per cent to the total fish production in the world.

However, the estimated loss due to diseases in aquaculture is at Rs 600 crore a year. There is a large-scale use of drugs, antibiotics and chemicals to control diseases. This issue needs to be regulated and addressed from the view point of fish health and human consumers, he said.

Drugs regulation

Considering the need for regulation of drugs in aquaculture, the Union Agriculture Ministry and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are planning to introduce pharmacology and toxicology courses in fisheries education.

In this regard, Dr Shankar said, the College of Fisheries in Mangalore will train teachers from 15 other Fisheries Colleges in the country in pharmacology and toxicology. The training programme will be inaugurated in Mangalore on August 10.

Those trained in Mangalore, in turn, will introduce teaching and research in these areas in their institutes.

The idea is to ensure safe use of drugs, antibiotics and chemicals in aquaculture through training, awareness, teaching and research in pharmacology and toxicology.

training

Dr Shankar also said that very soon pharmacology and toxicology will be included in the syllabus of fisheries programme (B.F.Sc) in the country. With this, fisheries graduates can prescribe drugs for aquatic animals, he said.

There is also a plan for intensive training of fisheries graduates — who are already in industry, universities and government departments — in pharmacology and toxicology.

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