Before talking about marine fisheries, let's learn a few facts about fisheries. Although there are more than 200 countries in the world, in hilsa exports Bangladesh is first in the whole world, and in freshwater fish exports Bangladesh stands third in the entire world! Surprised? The fact really is true. That is why there is a saying, “Fish and rice make a Bengali.” From ancient times we have been going forward on the basis of agriculture and fisheries resources.
The seabed
Fish science versus fisheries science
Many people have mistaken ideas about the name fisheries. Many think fisheries means the science of fish. That is in fact wrong. Fisheries is the science of fisheries. So what is the difference between fish and fisheries? A very large one, in fact. Fish means related to fish. Fisheries, on the other hand, means everything that is inside the water.
What is marine fisheries?
To begin this Marine Fisheries subject review, let's first learn what marine fisheries is. Fisheries science is the study of everything inside any body of water. Marine fisheries, on the other hand, is the study of what lies inside the sea. It is worth saying here, though, that both general fisheries and marine fisheries discuss the fisheries resources of the whole world; marine fisheries simply discusses the sea a little more. Otherwise the courses in the two subjects are much the same.
Seaweed
What is taught in Marine Fisheries?
Marine fisheries is an applied branch of biology, so an important part of it will be biological. For those who like biology it is bound to be very enjoyable. It is a long subject of 150 credits in all, so it is fair to say you will have to work hard.
By now you know what marine fisheries is. Let's come to the studying. The courses in this subject are essentially research- and career-based, so for those who want to go towards research or a job there is very good scope. The four years include detailed discussion of fish and other marine animals, detailed discussion of other marine organisms, ecology, aquaculture, hatcheries and fry, microbiology, economics, accounting and management. Courses in chemistry and mathematics are there too!
And will book learning alone do? Along with the lab courses there is compulsory research! Yes — in the fourth year everyone must do research for a full year and publish an article. Nor does it end there: once every year, four times in all, you are taken on field trips to Cox's Bazar, St Martin's, the Sundarbans, Chattogram and other places! These too are part of the course, with 4 credits allotted to them. So the study runs hands-on alongside the books!
Where Marine Fisheries graduates work
Having learned what marine fisheries is, when choosing a subject it is essential to know about the career. The field of work for marine fisheries — the job market, or business activity — is really twofold. The sea and other aquatic sources are all the field of marine fisheries. Since Bangladesh is the best in the world at exporting fish, how large this field of work is can easily be guessed. So joining these organisations is easy enough. Beyond that, the other fields that exist are:
The field of work for marine fisheries is really twofold. The sea and other aquatic sources are all the field of marine fisheries. Since Bangladesh is the best in the world at exporting fish, how large this field of work is can easily be guessed. So joining these organisations is easy enough. Beyond that, the other fields that exist are:
The office of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute
Government jobs in Marine Fisheries
- Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
- District Fisheries Officer
- Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation
- Department of Fisheries
- WorldFish Center
- Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) and its branch centres
- Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC)
- Academies and training centres related to fisheries and marine fisheries
- Government fish farms
- Government crab farms
Beyond this, marine fisheries graduates have the chance to work in several ministries that support the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and in the various agencies and offices under them. For example:
- Ministry of Land
- Ministry of Local Government
- Ministry of Irrigation, Water Development and Flood Control
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Commerce
- Ministry of Industries
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Shipping
- Ministry of Planning
- Ministry of Youth and Sports
A BRAC regional office
Private-sector jobs in Marine Fisheries
- Private fish farms
- Private crab farms
- Domestic and foreign NGOs
- Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC)
- Proshika Manobik Unnayan Kendra
- Grameen Bank
- RDRS
- Bachte Shekha
- TMSS
- Association for Social Advancement (ASA)
Another world beneath the sea
Jobs in international organisations for Marine Fisheries
Various international organisations run marine fisheries programmes in our country as they do in others around the world. For example:
- WorldFish Center
- Department for International Development (DFID)
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- CARE International Bangladesh
- Caritas Bangladesh
- Nature Conservation Movement
- Asian Wetland Bureau
- Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)
- Society for Conservation of Nature and Environment (SCONE)
- International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
- South Asia Partnership Bangladesh (SAP)
Private sectors for Marine Fisheries (jobs and business)
- Fish farms
- Fish hatcheries
- Fish feed manufacturing companies
Fish processing industries for Marine Fisheries
Marine fisheries graduates have the chance to take part in various short- and long-term projects and programmes. For example —
- Various projects and programmes implemented with government funding
- Projects and programmes implemented at the initiative of international organisations (DFID, USAID, DANIDA and so on).
Bank jobs for Marine Fisheries
There is scope to work in the fisheries lending sections of various banks. For example:
- Bangladesh Krishi Bank
- Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank
- Sonali Bank
- Agrani Bank
- Rupali Bank
- Janata Bank
- Cooperative Bank
- Karmasangsthan Bank
Self-employment in Marine Fisheries
After earning a BS in Marine Fisheries (honours), a marine fisheries graduate can arrange their own employment. Loans are also available from various banks in the country to raise the money. Starting on a small scale and establishing themselves first, a fisheries graduate can certainly then expand that effort to a large scale and arrange employment for others as well. For example:
- Hatcheries and spawn production
- Production of fry and table-size fish
- Pearl production
- Crab production
- Seaweed production
- Supplying various marine animals
- Production of spawn and fry of ornamental fish
- Fish feed production
- Fish processing
- Production of fisheries equipment (nets, for example)
- Organising fishing competitions in cultivated ponds and lakes
- Fisheries tourism (organising visits centred on fisheries at hotspots such as the Sundarbans, Kaptai Lake, Hakaluki Haor, Chalan Beel and the hilsa sanctuary of the Meghna; and arranging study tours for various institutions according to their courses)
- Setting up fish clinics in areas prone to fish disease
- Running an online fisheries information centre
Jobs and research abroad for Marine Fisheries
A fisheries graduate can also join various fisheries organisations outside the country. In various countries of the world, particularly in the Gulf and African regions, there is demand for fisheries professionals in fish farming and the fish processing industry. And the wide scope for research need hardly be mentioned.
With thanks for the career information: Tahmid, 11th batch, Fisheries, NSTU.
Which universities teach Marine Fisheries?
At present only Bangladesh Maritime University teaches this subject at undergraduate and postgraduate level. However, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Patuakhali Science and Technology University have opened Marine Fisheries departments. An undergraduate programme in the subject is due to open at Patuakhali Science and Technology University soon.
Alongside the universities, a programme in marine fisheries runs at the navy's Marine Fisheries Academy.
Bangladesh Maritime University
Which universities teach Fisheries?
- Bangladesh Agricultural University
- Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University
- Sylhet Agricultural University
- Khulna Agricultural University
- Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
- University of Dhaka
- Patuakhali Science and Technology University
- Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University
- Jashore University of Science and Technology
- Noakhali Science and Technology University
If biology is your favourite subject, Marine Fisheries could be a subject you like. I hope you will thoroughly enjoy the four years. From what is written above, has Marine Fisheries found a place on your list? Then you can enrol in this subject of the agricultural sciences. Wishing your four years all the colour they deserve, I end here.
Muhammad Ashraful Alam Shemul
Marine Fisheries (1st batch, 2019–20)
Bangladesh Maritime University
