L.K. Atheeq, Financial Advisor to the Chief Minister, speaking at the 6th edition of Mangaluru Technovanza at T.M.A. Pai International Convention Centre, in Mangaluru on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH
Financial Advisor to the Chief Minister L. K. Atheeq said here on Wednesday that the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology has got the government’s approval to set up a Centre of Excellence in Marine Studies and Bio-economy at the College of Fisheries in Mangaluru at a cost of ₹60 crore.
Speaking at a session on ‘Policy, industry, and capital for Mangaluru’ at the sixth edition of Mangaluru Technovanza – 2026, Mr. Atheeq said that the Cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru on September 18 accorded in-principle approval to upgrade the College of Fisheries into a fisheries university, duly enhancing the intake from the present 60 students to 200 students a year. The upgradation as a full-fledged university might take another five years. The Centre of Excellence in Marine Studies and Bio-economy will be set up as an immediate step in this direction. The centre is expected to come up within a year.
Once upgraded as a university, it can focus its studies on oceanography in addition to fisheries, he said, adding that there is a need to create human resources in maritime engineering.
Budget proposal
It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while presenting the Budget for 2026–27, proposed to establish a Centre of Excellence at the College of Fisheries to promote biotechnology-based industries, development of new technology and mariculture.
A specialised branch of aquaculture, mariculture involves the cultivation of marine organisms, including finfish, shellfish and seaweed, in controlled or enclosed saltwater environments, namely, cage culture, ponds, or offshore sea areas. Mariculture thus offers a sustainable, high-growth alternative to marine fishing, thereby providing protein-rich food and economic livelihoods.
Published – September 23, 2026 06:12 pm IST
