How to Become a Fishery Officer

About Fishery Officer

Every year thousands of students apply to become Fisheries Officers, with only 35% of them succeeding. Most students must pursue UG and PG courses in the relevant field. They must, however, take an exam administered by the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR). Some of the best colleges for becoming a Fisheries Officer include BU Bhopal, SRM University, St. Xaviers Mumbai, and others. The average can range between INR 40,000 and INR 200,000. A Fisheries Officer who has completed such a course can work in areas such as Fish Breeding Farms, Food Processing and Technology, Fisheries Development Boards, Environmental Agencies, and so on. The average salary for such professionals could range between INR 4 LPA and INR 8 LPA. A career in Fisheries Science offers lucrative employment. India stands in the seventh position in the export of fish in the world. The Fishery industry involves catching, processing, marketing and conservation of fish. One of the major occupations in this field is Fishery officer. The major responsibility of a fisheries officer is to monitor, manage and protect wild fish stocks, rivers, lakes and other habitats where they live. Most of the fisheries officers work for government agencies despite there being employment opportunities in the private sector too. They also work with environmental agencies and organizations. They also undertake investigative surveys of water quality and the health, and movement of fish and spawning.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Fishery Officer

A fisheries officer is in charge of facility asset protection. They frequently manage activities and policies that may have an impact on endangered or threatened species. The responsibilities of this officer may change depending on the size of the fishing industry and recreational uses in their state or region. Fishery Officers are responsible for conducting aquatic life surveys, investigating fish mortalities, studying water quality, monitoring fish stock levels, and working on technical projects. Some of their responsibilities and roles are listed below.

• Examine various fish stocks to ensure that the right kind and quantity of fish are in the right places
• Undertakes yearly river overviews and electro-fishing and fishing nets activities
• They communicate with and prompt external bodies such as angling clubs, councils, and fishery owners
• They also collaborate with arranging specialists to ensure that new building improvements do not have a negative impact on stream fisheries
• Fisheries Officers encourage and issue licences for fish development, as well as stay current on legislative and considerable logical and technical developments

Eligibility to become Fishery Officer

In India, numerous institutes offer postgraduate and undergraduate courses in Fisheries science. For getting admission in these institutes, students need to appear for entrance exams conducted by central agency Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR). Several state governments also conduct entrance exams for the admission to Fisheries course in state-level universities/ colleges. In order to become a fishery officer, students need to start right from the Class 12.

Subjects Combination: Students must study Biology as one of the subjects in Class 12 to apply for higher studies in Fishery science courses.

Eligibility: -

• Class 12 with Biology as one of the subjects is the minimum qualification required to apply for 4-year Bachelor of Fisheries Science course/ B.Sc Industrial Fish and Fisheries (3 years)/ B.Sc Fisheries (3 years)/ B.Sc Aquaculture (3 years).
• After completing Bachelor’s degree in any of the courses mentioned above, students can take up 2-year Masters of Fisheries Science course/ M.Sc in Aquatic Biology/ Fishery Science and Aquaculture/ Industries Fisheries/ Limnology and Fisheries/ Marine Biology and Fisheries.
• Students can also appear for recruitment exams conducted by government agencies after Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

Steps to become a Fishery Officer

To be a Fishery Officer, you must first develop a strategy. Collegedekho have shared some steps below that will give you an idea as to what points to consider while making preparations for the Fishery Officer.

Step 1: Making Decisions

Make sure you truly want to pursue this career as your first step. Make sure to decide where you want to advance your career as a fishery officer. Fishery Officers are needed in many different economic sectors. Students who are interested in learning how to become Fisheries officers should begin their preparations during their upper secondary education. They must pick a subject that will enable them to work toward their career over the long term.

Obtaining admission to a reputable institution or university in a relevant field (such as BSc or BFSc) would help them focus their career as a fishery officer in the right direction.

Step 2: Subject Options

However, combining subjects is not a requirement to become a Fishery Officer.

Students who want to work as fisheries officers in the future should take relevant courses in high school, such as physics, chemistry, biology, and others.

15% of the Fishery Officers found today in every sector hold the fisheries science degree, which is the most preferred and common degree.

Step 3: Preparation for Entrance Exams

One of the crucial steps that must be successfully completed on the path to becoming a Fishery Officer is preparing for the entrance exam. You must prepare for the CIFNET entrance exam in order to be accepted into the top Fishery College if you want to enroll in the fishery programme. The course syllabus should not intimidate them; instead, they should develop a plan to go over it and review key sections as much as they can.

Step 4: Choosing the Right Colleges

Many platforms also offer the Fishery Officer course online by including certification or diploma programmes in it. A student may select the option based on their needs. There are many privately owned institutions that offer certificate, diploma, and undergraduate courses in fisheries science. Private colleges typically offer ample platforms for aspirant Fishery Officer students. Central Agricultural University, Government Holkar Science College, Lovely Professional University, Annamalai University, and other well-known colleges offer quality fisheries courses.

Step 5: Post Qualifying Examination

Your journey doesn't end after taking the CIFNET exam and getting accepted to the top university. It will take consistency and patience to complete this four-year journey.

Before moving on to the next round, they must meet the college cut-off requirements. The procedure starts with GD and ends with a PI. A research proposal must also be submitted for upper-level courses. You can even work as a Fishery Officer for different organisations while you study.

Courses to become Fishery Officer

To become a Fishery Officer, a person can enroll in a variety of courses. The list of different fishery science courses for the same is provided below:

1. Diploma in Aquaculture

The Diploma in Aquaculture programme educates students about the study of breeding and raising marine life, as well as the enclosures that support it. The purpose of this programme is to intrigue students' interest in aquatic science and its other subfields.

Aquaculture Diploma Eligibility Requirements

• Students must have earned a passing grade in their 10+2 exams in any stream from an accredited board or its equivalent

Application procedure for a Diploma in Aquaculture

• Candidates are chosen for the Diploma in Aquaculture programme based on their qualifying exam merit score
• Candidates may also enroll in the programme on a part-time and online basis

2. BFSc

With a BFSc, one can become technically proficient in fisheries and have the necessary skills to manage, conserve, and create distinct fisheries assets for the nation's high-quality fish protein and food security.

BFSc Minimum Eligibility Requirements

• Obtaining a qualifying 10+2 in science from a reputed institution
• Students must receive at least 50% of the possible points
• Some colleges also grant reserved students a 5% relaxation

Admission Procedure for BFSc

• After completing their 10+2 with PCB subjects, candidates must pass the Common Entrance Test administered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
• A few universities and colleges offer direct admission based on students' test scores, which is followed by an applicant interview

3. BFSc Aquaculture 

BFsc in Aquaculture is a four-year undergraduate programme that studies marine culture with a focus on the management, conservation, and sustainability of aquatic life. It is a multidisciplinary integrated course that is further divided into different aspects of aquaculture while being taught in a university setting.

BFSc in Aquaculture Eligibility Requirement

Students who want to major in BFSc in Aquaculture must have met the requirements listed below:

• Students who want to enroll in the BFSc in Aquaculture programme must have graduated from an accredited intermediate science programme
• If necessary for the desired college, they must also have passed the entrance exam

Admissions for the BFSc in Aquaculture programme

• Candidates who have completed their 10+2 in the science stream must pass the entrance exams in accordance with the specified criteria in order to be admitted to college
• The students can present their application once they have their test results

4. MFSc Aquaculture 

A 2-year PG programme in MFSc in Aquaculture covers topics in oceanography, marine biology, marine conservation, ecology, population dynamics, etc.

MFSc in Aquaculture Eligibility Requirement

• Students must have earned their graduation in any pertinent field and have an overall score of between 45% and 50%
• Appearing students are also eligible

Admission Procedure for MFSc in Aquaculture

• Entrance exams and merit-based selection are used to determine admission to MFSc programmes
• Candidates must enroll in the colleges that are offering the courses and submit all necessary paperwork

Types of Job Roles Fishery Officer

A person with a necessary qualification in Fisheries Science courses can get employment in government and private agencies. Some of the important roles that Fisheries Officer can take up are given below.

Fisheries Extension Officer: Fisheries extension officers play a vital role in the promotion of fish rearing/ framing n the private and public ponds/ lakes. They figure out ways and solutions to increase the income of farmers. They also advise farmers on fish rearing.

Fisheries Biologist: Fisheries Biologists are regarded as scientists who study fish and their habitats. They mostly focus on observing the behaviour of fish in their natural surroundings.

Fishery Manager: Fishery Managers oversee the activities that take place at a fishery. Some of such activities include monitoring fish growth, prepping food, maintaining equipment, screening cultivation areas and coordinate with other managers in affiliated fisheries.

Fishery Observer: Fishery observer is an independent specialist, who serves in fishing processing plants. A fishery observer spends his time in collecting data for some types of at-sea information.

Fishery Technician: Fishery technicians are responsible for sampling and gathering data and support research & fisheries management. They also play a significant role in the conservation and protection of fisheries resources.

Fishery Officer: The major responsibility of a fisheries officer is to monitor, manage and protect wild fish stocks, rivers, lakes and other habitats where they live.

Other Roles: Assistant Fisheries Development Officer and District Fisheries Development Officer are some of the other roles that a Fishery Officer can take up. They work under the supervision of senior level fishery officers.

Employment Opportunities for Fishery Officer

A student with a degree in Fisheries science can find employment in both government and the private sector. They can get employment in diverse fields associated with fisheries sciences. Some of them are: -

• Fish Breeding Farms
• Food Processing and Technology
• Food Department
• Fisheries Development Board
• Environmental Agencies

Candidates can also take up their own fishery business after obtaining the necessary qualification in fishery sciences. They can engage themselves in the export and import business of fish, which is one of the popular businesses in India. India stands in the seventh position in the export of fish in the world.

Top Recruiting Agencies for Fishery Officer

Fishery officers mostly find employment in the following government departments: -

• Indian National Centre for Ocean and Information Sciences – Hyderabad
• National Institute of Oceanography
• Fisheries Survey of India
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• Coastal Aquaculture Authority of India
• Export Inspection Agency
• Marine Product Export Development Authority

Skills Required to be a Fishery Officer 

To work as a Fishery Officer, you must possess a few essential skill sets. The career of a Fishery Officer requires the skills listed below.

• Ability to analyse
• Maneuvering supplies
• Resilience when working long hours outside
• Knowledge of information management

Pay Scale/Salary of Fishery Officer

Fishery Officers are paid the highest salaries in the government sector, and the scope for employment in the government sector is high. The monthly salary earned by Fishery Officer and others in the same field is listed below.

Note: The above figures are an estimate and may vary from individual to individual and company to company.

Career Path of a Fishery Officer 

Working as a Fishery Officer is regarded as one of the most rewarding careers worldwide. The rate of job growth for Fishery Officers is significantly higher than other average job growth. The need for Fishery Officers is also growing, which is the justification for this rise in fish demand. As a result, more people want to work as fishery officers. Some of its advantages are listed below. It has its own benefits.

• Salary: Fishery officers in India make an average of INR 4,000,000. Freshmen Fishery Officers begin their careers with an annual salary of INR 3,50,00. Over INR 8,00,000 can be earned annually by Fishery Officers with more than 10 years of experience
• Job Stability: In the modern world, managing rivers, seas, fish, and other resources is the core of the fishing industry. Everything revolves around marine or fishery sciences, whether it's a large corporation or a small business. Therefore, organisations would need knowledgeable specialists or all fisheries officers to deal with this effectively. They are the ones who understand the need for hierarchical improvements and plan the various fish stock management systems to guarantee the right kind and quantity of fish are in the right places. Opportunities for Fishery Officers are available in government organisations as well, and these positions have high levels of job security. Additionally, due to numerous benefits that the company provides for them, mid-level and senior-level employees in many associations also profit from the benefit of job security
• Positive Outcomes: Being a Fishery Officer is a difficult job in and of itself. It necessitates a demanding job. A student is then able to contribute positively to their career. Regular interactions with animals are required by the job description, which enhances the prospective Fishery Officer student's overall friendliness and working environment. Among the advantages of this career are observance of the regulations and the Fisheries Act. Communicate with and remind outside organisations like fishing clubs, councils, and fisheries owners to take action. To promote a greater understanding of fisheries resources and the necessity for their protection, they take part in public education and awareness programmes throughout the state
• Higher Education: After finishing their course in fisheries science, aquaculture, or another related field as their area of specialisation, students can begin working for an organisation as a fisheries officer right away. They will be qualified for an entry-level position with this qualification. If they choose, they can advance their education by enrolling in a master's programme in the pertinent field after some time spent working
• Special Experience: Being a Fishery Officer is a very difficult career to pursue. You will advance in this field by having unique experiences while identifying, evaluating, surveying aquatic life, looking into fish mortality, examining water quality, and learning a rich body of information

Books & Study Material to Become Fishery Officer

Students can refer to the following books to enhance knowledge in the field of fisheries science: -

• A Text Book to Fishery Science and Indian Fisheries by Dr. CBL Srivastava
• General and Applied Ichthyology by Gupta SK
• Post-Harvest Technology of Fish and Fish Products by KK Balachandran
• Aquaculture and Fisheries by N Arumugam

Pros of becoming a Fishery Officer

• The demand is high for students with a degree in Fisheries science
• The work is hands-on and practical, with plenty of outdoor work

Cons of becoming a Fishery Officer

• Irregular and long working hours
• A career in Fishery science is not suitable to all