The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) has invited applications from eligible fisheries students for its Skill Development Training Programmes in Aquatic Animal Health and Quality Testing under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The programme offers an opportunity for students to gain practical laboratory experience in advanced diagnostic and analytical techniques that are widely used in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
The training will be conducted at the Aquatic Animal Health & Quality Testing Laboratory (AAH&QTL), Hyderabad, an ISO 9001:2015-certified facility that supports aquatic animal health, disease diagnosis, and quality testing. By combining classroom knowledge with hands-on laboratory training, the programme aims to prepare aspiring fisheries professionals for careers in research, diagnostics, aquaculture, and allied industries.
Bridging the Gap Between Education and Industry
India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, creating new opportunities for technically skilled professionals. While fisheries students receive a strong academic foundation through undergraduate programmes, practical exposure to modern laboratory techniques has become increasingly important for employment in research institutions, government laboratories, hatcheries, aquaculture companies, feed industries, and seafood processing units.
Recognising this need, NFDB has designed the programme to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and industry requirements. Participants will gain practical experience with laboratory equipment, analytical procedures, and diagnostic techniques commonly used in aquatic animal health management and aquaculture quality assurance.
Who Can Apply?
According to NFDB, the training programme is open to:
- Scheduled Caste (SC) category students pursuing Bachelor of Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc.) – Third Year and above
- Students pursuing B.Sc. Fisheries and Allied Sciences
Eligible candidates are required to submit their applications along with the necessary supporting documents. Applications should reach NFDB at least 10 days before the commencement of the respective training programme.
Training Modules
The programme covers specialised laboratory techniques that play an important role in disease diagnosis, aquatic animal health monitoring, and quality testing.
The training includes practical sessions on:
- Microbial Culture Techniques
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and its applications
- Real-Time PCR and its applications
- Aquafeed Analysis
These laboratory techniques are widely used for identifying aquatic pathogens, studying disease outbreaks, evaluating feed quality, and supporting scientific research in fisheries and aquaculture.
Participants will receive hands-on exposure to modern laboratory methodologies that are increasingly being adopted across the fisheries sector.
Why This Training Matters
Scientific aquaculture depends on accurate disease diagnosis, effective health management, quality feed, and reliable laboratory testing. As aquaculture production continues to expand, the demand for trained professionals with laboratory skills is also increasing.
Training in molecular diagnostics, microbiology, and feed analysis can help students develop technical competencies that are relevant to careers in fish health laboratories, diagnostic centres, research organisations, universities, hatcheries, and private aquaculture companies.
Such skill development programmes also support the broader objective of creating a technically competent workforce capable of contributing to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development.
Benefits for Participants
NFDB has announced several benefits for selected candidates, making the programme accessible to eligible students from different regions.
Participants will receive:
- Practical training in advanced laboratory techniques
- Exposure to modern diagnostic and analytical methods
- Certificate of Participation
- Boarding and lodging facilities as per NFDB norms
- Travel allowance of up to ₹3,000, subject to applicable guidelines
- No registration fee
To ensure effective practical learning and individual attention, each batch will be limited to only 15 participants.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can submit their applications along with the required supporting documents by emailing aahqtl.nfdb@gmail.com.
For additional information regarding the programme, candidates may contact AAH&QTL, NFDB, Hyderabad, at +91 40 2401 5563.
Candidates are advised to submit their applications well in advance, as applications must be received at least 10 days before the start of the respective training programme.
Looking Ahead
Skill development has become an important component of India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector as the industry increasingly adopts scientific farming practices, advanced diagnostics, and quality assurance systems. Programmes such as the one offered by NFDB provide students with an opportunity to build practical laboratory skills alongside their academic education.
For aspiring fisheries professionals, the training offers exposure to technologies currently used in aquatic animal health management and laboratory diagnostics while helping improve technical competencies and career readiness. As India’s fisheries sector continues to grow, initiatives that combine education with hands-on experience are expected to play an important role in developing a skilled workforce capable of supporting the future needs of the industry.
