Fish & Fisheries

By Dr.Kespi Aspi Pithawala | Department of Zoology, H & H. B. Kotak Institute of Science, Saurashtra University, Rajkot.

Learners enrolled: 1762

The present course has been specially designed for the students studying in the zoology subject at college level as per the UGC approved curriculum. In addition this course can also be opted by U.G. students of relevant disciplines of biological sciences including Life-sciences, Agricultural Sciences,Toxicology, Forensic Science, Geological Sciences, Veterinary Sciences, Fishery Science, Fishbiology, Forestry, Marine Biology, Aquatic Biology etc.

The course will initially cover the essential aspects of fish biology as introduction to fresh water as well as marine fishes, its taxonomic position and identification as well as fish Behaviour. Also fish physiology of feeding and breeding, migrations, defense mechanisms, schooling, parental care etc. Topics regarding fishing and fisheries as Inland Fisheries, Marine Fisheries, Fishing crafts and Gears, Environmental factors influencing the seasonal variations in fish catches in the Arabian Sea and the bay of Bengal. Teaching of topics that are a modern day concern as depletion of fisheries resources, Application of remote sensing and GIS in fisheries and Fisheries law and regulations. As regards to aquaculture sustainable, extensive and intensive culture of fish, pen and cage cultures, poly and composite culture, induced breeding management of finfish hatcheries, brood stock management, fish diets, role or water quality, fish diseases –as bacterial, viral and parasitic. Fish preservation and processing including byproducts will be studied. Besides, aquarium preparation and maintenance as well as use of fish in research works as transgenic fish using zebra fish as model will be taught.

Indicative Program Alignments :

B.Sc.

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Zoology
Credit Points :	4
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	14 Jul 2025
End Date :	31 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	31 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	14 Dec 2025 IST
NCrF Level	5.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

W1_M1_General Description of Fish

W1_M2_Classification of Fishes (Upto Classes)

W2_M3_Classification of Fishes Based on Feeding Habits

W2_M4_Classification of Fishes Based on Habitat and Manner of Reproduction

W3_M5_Types of Fish Fins and their Modifications

W3_M6_Locomotion in Fishes

W3_M7_Fish Hydrodynamics

W4_M8_Types of Fish Scales and Uses of Scales

W4_M9_Gills and Gas Exchange in Fishes

W4_M10_Swim Bladder Types and Buoyancy in Fishes

W5_M11_Osmoregulation in Fishes

W5_M12_Reproductive Strategies in Fishes

W5_M13_Electric Organs in Fishes

W6_M14_Bioluminescence in Fishes

W6_M15_Mechanoreceptors in Fishes

W7_M16_Schooling, Parental Care and Migration in Fishes

W7_M17_Inland Fisheries

W8_M18_Marine Fisheries

W8_M19_Environmental Factors influencing the Seasonal Variations in Fishes

W8_M20_Fishing Crafts and Gears

W9_M21_Depletion of Fisheries Resources

W9_M22_Application of Remote Sensing and GIS in Fisheries

W9_M23_Fisheries Laws and Regulations

W10_M24_Sustainable Aquaculture

W10_M25_Induced Breeding of Fish

W10_M26_Management of Finfish Hatcheries

W11_M27_Preparation and Maintenance of Fish Aquarium

W11_M28_Preparation of Compound Diets for Fish and Role of Water Quality in Aquaculture

W11_M29_Fish Diseases

W12_M30_Preservation and Processing of Harvested Fish

W12_M31_Fishery By-Products

W12_M32_Transgenic Fish and Zebrafish as a Model Organism in Research

Books and references

Reading Material

1_Bone and R. Moore: Biology of Fishes.

2_D. H. Evans and J. D. Claiborne: The Physiology of Fishes.

3_von der Emde, R. J. Mogdans and B. G. Kapoor: The Senses of Fish, Adaptations for the Reception of Natural Stimuli.

4_C. B. L. Srivastava: Fish Biology.

5_J. R. Norman: A History of Fishes.

6_S. S. Khana and H. R. Singh: A Textbook of Fish Biology and Fisheries.

Instructor bio

Dr.Kespi Aspi Pithawala

Department of Zoology, H & H. B. Kotak Institute of Science, Saurashtra University, Rajkot.

Dr.Kespi A Pithawala is currently working as an Associate Professor in Zoology subject at Department of Zoology,

H & H. B. Kotak Institute of Science, Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India. His posting is after clearing GPSC examination and is Gazetted Class-II Officer. He has 21 years of Teaching and Research experience. He is currently holding the charge of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with Department of Higher Education, Government of Gujarat (GOG). He has been actively engaged in Research activities since 1997 and his major areas of research are Enzyme Engineering (Biotechnology) and Nanotechnology. He has successfully carried out a Major Research Project (UGC Approved; 2005-2007) and has around 20 papers published in UGC recognized Peer-reviewed International journals to his credit. He has also prepared 22 Programs for E-content development in Zoology subject at EMRC, Ahmedabad. His graduation was B. Sc. Zoology with Fishery Sciences and Post-graduation was M. Sc. Zoology (Bio-Sciences- Animal Science) with Specialization in Fisheries subject. Apart from Teaching and Research, he has been actively involved with initiatives of Education Department (GOG) for Teacher training and Capability building, CBCS Course designing, Curriculum development, etc.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from.
However, if you wish to get a certificate, you need to register and appear for a proctored exam.
If you succeed in the examination, a certificate will be issued by the host university (Gujarat University). All related information will be notified on SWAYAM platform.
Assessment: 30% for in-course assessment, 70% for end-term proctored exam.

SWAYAM Helpline / Support