T. Pradeep Kumar, Deputy Prime Minister of Kerala Fisheries and Marine Research (KUFOS) – India’s first fishing university is exclusively for fishing and marine science.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who has stepped down from the helm of Varsity after two years of office, believes Kufos is more competitive with domestic and international funding, academic exchange programs and institutional partnerships due to bagging of NAAC accreditation results.
How do you assess Kufos’ role as a VC?
One of the major highlights was the first Global Fisheries Conference and Exposition held in January 2024, and collaborating with the Alumni Association to attract international attention. We became members of the Arctic University (Uarctic), paving a new pathway for polar and climate-related research collaborations. Several Mouss have been signed with national and international academic and business entities to strengthen our partnerships and expand student and faculty opportunities.
It also launched a programme to prove India’s pelagic resources through stakeholder consultations, promoting innovative research into alternative protein sources such as Black Soldier Fly larvae that contribute to both feed security and effective waste management. The promotion of seeds pearl spot seed production and gene improvement research has marked an important step in species-specific aquaculture research.
Kufos’ future plans to develop into a global hub for fisheries and marine science?
Our strategic vision will transform KUFO into an interdisciplinary education and research university by expanding academic disciplines, strengthening interdisciplinary research, developing global academic and research partnerships, and positioning the university as a policy think tank for the Indian blue economy.
We are always encouraging people to go abroad to acquire new skillsets to lead our country’s fishing scenarios. Many work at major universities and research institutes in various regions of the world with various fellowships. Recently, we sent nine students and faculty to Norway in 2022 for a three-month training program to continue our visit to Norway in Kerala. Such associations will lead to the opening of new centres and departments, offer dual degree and interdisciplinary programs, establish new centres of excellence, encourage academic research proposals, and encourage research proposals.
We are discussing joint projects and dual programs with international universities and institutions of marine research. However, it will expand the Fisher Fork Training Center and Skill Development Hub in the coastal district, expanding its “Fishing for All” outreach programme, with the roots of social engagement for sustainable development that integrates livelihood research, coastal management, and policy consultations into academic priorities.
Kufos is also intervening in industrial collaborations with seafood processing companies, aquaculture startups and marine instrumentation companies for skill development, technology transfer and pilot projects. We have established a business incubation center to support startups in areas such as Aquaponics, Food Processing, and Biofloc technology.
Can you outline the future roadmap to make Kfos a global leader in the blue economy?
Kufos is actively contributing to India’s blue economy through interdisciplinary research and training in areas such as marine biotechnology, diversification of aquaculture, marine spatial planning, and sustainable port development. To become a major global educational institute, you will need to launch a flagship interdisciplinary program that can attract both international students and industries.
Our envisioned programs include MBAs from Blue Economy & Maritime Management, MTECH in Marine Renewable Energy, Masters in Coastal Climate Change and Resilience, PG Diploma in Law and Policy, and Masters in Marine Data Analysis and Robotics.
It also needs to establish a Blue Economy Research Center focused on promoting interdisciplinary research clusters across science, technology, economics and policy without affecting the local fishermen’s community and biodiversity livelihoods.
What is Kfos’ contribution to the welfare of the fishing community in Kerala and beyond?
We take pride in being the only university in the country that reserves 20% of the seats for fishermen’s children and ensures inclusiveness in education. Our expansion and outreach services are deeply rooted in Kerala’s coastal and inland fishing communities. We provide on-site training in sustainable fish agriculture through programs such as Village Adoption and Karimeengramam. Through the “Center for Field Consultants” and “Data Analysis” and “Pandit Carpin Chair”, we focus on research into Fisherfolk’s socioeconomic status and livelihood safety.
The Advanced Research and Research Center for Entrepreneurship Development promotes entrepreneurship skills in the development of value-added fish products, bakery products, and decorative fish agriculture. These efforts have increased income, job creation and better living conditions for many coastal families.
In collaboration with the National Maritime Information Services Centre for India (Incois, Hyderabad), the university regularly spreads recommendations on potential fishing zones, which saves significant reconnaissance time and valuable money. It can also standardize the many Indigenous freshwater fish breeding techniques that are successfully implemented in many highlands of the state with the help of local fishermen and tribes.
