Mangaluru: One may not believe that the College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, the first fisheries college in the country, did not get any additional infrastructure during its five decades of existence.

The fact came to be revealed when the college authorities sought government assistance to improve the existing building infrastructure and provide more facilities when the college is celebrating its golden jubilee year.

Started in 1969 after efforts by the then Vice-Chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, C.K. Nayak and the college’s first director, H.P.C. Shetty, the Mangaluru college has been a model for the 25 other such colleges across the country, said college dean M.N. Venugopal in a memorandum submitted to Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Venkatarao Nadagouda here on Tuesday.

In the last five decades, the college has produced over 1,450 graduates, 380 postgraduates and 120 research scholars; yet the college did not get any additional infrastructure, including classrooms and hostels, Mr. Venugopal said.

Examinations are being conducted in four cramped classrooms meant for graduate courses and there is need for a building to house two examination halls with 75 seats each and a also dedicated conference hall.

When other fisheries colleges are fast developing, the Mangaluru college needs to get equipped to match them, if not exceed their facilities to provide the best quality of education and research facilities.

There is a dire need for upgrading the six-decade-old fish processing unit established with the help of Japan, to FSSAI and ISO standards.

A centre to impart training to fishermen and those who process fish, along with a hostel, is also needed. The college also lacks sophisticated aquarium and museum.

The existing mechanised boat for demonstration and research has become obsolete and unsafe for students and a new one with modern facilities is required, Mr. Venugopal said. While the existing fish farms need to be repaired, there is a need for new ones too, he added.

Besides the new infrastructure facilities, all existing buildings, including college building, hostel, the lone seminar hall, auditorium, underground drainage system and water tanks, need repairs, the dean said.

Responding to the demands, the Minister asked the college administration to identify one work as a priority one, for which he would arrange to release funds.