Quaid-i-Azam University holds Fisheries Day walk

The Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) organized a walk on campus to mark the World Fisheries Day. The event was organized to highlight the critical importance of water and lives, it sustain on  human lives, as it provides food for billions and generates employment opportunities worldwide.

Chief organizer of the event Dr. Amina Zuberi, Department of Animal Sciences, QAU said that according to United Nations report more than two-thirds of the world’s fisheries have been overfished or are fully harvested and more than one third are in a state of decline because of factors such as the loss of essential fish habitats, pollution, and global warming etc.

Dr. Amina Zuberi briefed the audience regarding aquaculture research program of the Animal Sciences Department, QAU. She said that the program is addressing the issues and making effort to improve the post release survivorship of captive reared fish  either by manipulation of rearing environment, reducing their behavior deficiency or improving their immunity so that can withstand polluted environment. Furthermore, also working on impact of pollutants and global warming on freshwater fish

“For sustainable supply of fish, we are also in a way of evaluating different stains of different cultural fish species and running a selective breeding project for producing fast growing, disease resistance fish for Pakistan culture system. In addition, we are also focusing on producing larval feed, Nano diet, functional feed as well as  low cost feed for meeting the challenges like high mortality, retarded growth and cost of production” she added.

While addressing the students, faculty and participants Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali, Vice Chancellor, QAU, said that Pakistan has suitable environmental conditions for aquaculture industry. He said aquaculture has enormous potential and can play vital role in economic development of the country. Dr. Muhammad Ali urged the students for keeping the environment particularly water bodies clean.

Earlier Dr. Muhammad Shahab, Dean Faculty of Biological Sciences highlighted the importance of the day and briefed the participants regarding achievements of the faculty and the department. A large number of faculty members, students, researchers, aquaculture and fisheries professionals participated in the walk and visited the fisheries and aquaculture facility at the QAU.