INTRODUCTION

Pakistan has been blessed with huge fisheries resources and potential for aquaculture which have not been fully exploited due to lack of education and trained manpower. Presently, no Higher Education institution in the country offers undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Fisheries and Aquaculture. Hence the Chancellor has assigned a mission to UVAS for initiating BS (Hons.) degree programme. This programme will be in consonance with the national objectives of poverty alleviation, food security and raising GDP.
Sustainable use of aquatic resources is a global, national as well as local issue. Balancing the needs of expanding human population with the need for preservation of water quality and aquatic fauna requires a fundamental understanding and management of these resources and that can only be gained through education and research. Aquaculture is the fastest growing segment of the agriculture industry. Coupled with cutting edge technologies of the day, it has become one of the most expanding and rapidly changing fields. With the demand of food fishes on the rise, aquaculture provides quality fish for public consumption and exports. While at the same time, it reduces the pressure of over-fishing of the native species found in our country's water bodies: rivers, lakes, canals and oceans. It is therefore, imperative for policy makers and academicians to address this demand for the trained experts, scientists and technicians that are well versed in operating and managing fish hatcheries, farms and biologists that are trained in fisheries resource management.
The BS (Hons.) degree programme addresses the needs for sustainable development of the country's fisheries resources and respond to the call for production of highly trained manpower in the field. Its curricular offerings aim to impart to students both, theoretical knowledge and practical skills as well as develop analytical capabilities as a tool toward innovative solutions to fisheries and related programs.
The BS (Hons.) in Fisheries and Aquaculture offers extensive coursework in the major areas of fisheries science and aquaculture. Equipment in fisheries technology includes advanced soil and water quality testing apparatus; mapping and fish survey equipment; and an extensive museum collection of fish species. In addition, students will also have opportunities to conduct independent research on addressing new available technologies in fisheries and aquaculture.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture program gives students a hands-on experience raising local fish and shrimp species, and enriches them with diverse fisheries management field experiences. The faculty?s natural setting at Bhunikey, Pattoki campus will provide students with an "outdoor aquaculture laboratory". Numerous lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers in the vicinity will be regularly visited for field work.

Hands-on Training

The programme is designed to address following issues in specific:

Capturing fish by hand nets, trap, gillnets, and cast nets.

Quantifying and identifying aquatic invertebrates.

Sampling of physical and chemical parameters of aquatic systems.

Pond fertilization

Farm management

Nutrition

Disease management

Breeding and hatchery management

Sampling of both freshwater and marine systems.

Conducting fish age and growth studies.

Developing fisheries management plans.

OBJECTIVES

To impart advanced knowledge and skills about the major disciplines of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

To teach different methods of sustainable exploration, and data collection of fisheries resources.

To equip students with the knowledge and skills for planning better framing strategies and management of aquatic resources.

To produce technically trained graduates in Fisheries and Aquaculture

To prepare and train students for advanced studies and specialization in modern emerging technologies.

To develop scientific attitude and demonstrate professional skills for teaching/research/managerial positions in national and international organizations.

The graduates will have different options for going for BS (Hons.), M.Phil and Ph.D studies, be employed in different industrial disciplines or adopting there own entrepreneurship and create further employment opportunities.

Direct employment will be generated for faculty members, establishment and laboratory staff within the University as well as competent persons from outside.

Indirect employment opportunities will be generated after the passing out of Fisheries & Aquaculture Diploma holders, graduates and postgraduates in private sector (fish hatcheries, fish feed mills, meat processing industries etc.) and public sectors (fisheries department, marine department, research institutes, etc.).

Trained fisheries graduates, besides serving in public organizations, will be able to initiate small scale business in their fields to create job opportunities for technical and non technical persons.