Fisheries Research and Training Centre of Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal is a research and training centre and has mandate of research, training and extension in different aspects of freshwater aquaculture in North Bengal region including Darjeeling hills. The Centre has 11 (Eleven) numbers of ponds of assorted types namely nursery, rearing and stocking occupying an area of 1.5 ha and located within the University Campus alongside the flowing Magurmari River and an onsite Field Laboratory having the facility for research and training (0.5 Km from the Department of Zoology) along with an extended aquaculture unit with cemented and Fibre glass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) tanks of varying shape and size and a circular eco-hatchery at the Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal.

The development of the “Fisheries Research and Training Centre” was initiated by Late Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Krishna Nath Chatterjee, University of North Bengal during his tenure in 1994 after discussing the matter with the Faculty Members, Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal and the Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal. The Centre with 11 ponds developed on a 1.5 ha marshy/derelict land and a field laboratory, erstwhile known as “Krishnanath Fishery Research and Training Centre” (resolved in the Executive Council meeting held on 22.12.1997). The funding for the development of the Centre was made available from “Jawahar Rojgar Yogana Programme” and routed through the Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal and Siliguri Mahakuma Parisad. After the successful completion of the construction of the 11 ponds of different categories and a Field Laboratory, the Centre was inaugurated in 1998 by the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. R.G. Mukherjee. The onus of fulfilling the objectives of the “Krishnanath Fishery Research & Training Centre” was initially given jointly to Department of Zoology, NBU and Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal. To commence with, a seed money of about Rs. 7000/- was sanctioned in the Budget under “Revenue Expenditure, NBU-General Administration & Common Service” and chargeable head “Other Expenses: NBU A/C Fisheries Complex” and later revised to Rs.20,000/- (FY:2003-2004). This revised amount of Rs. 20,000/- was continued to be sanctioned in the budget till FY: 2007-2008. From FY: 2013-2014, University declared it as a “Fisheries Research and Training Centre” with an initial budget of Rs 50,000/- (Fifty thousand only) under aegis of Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal. During the period 2004 - 2016, 3 (three) consecutive major research and extension projects funded by Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi (2004-2007; 2009-2013; 2012-2016) were sanctioned to Dr. S. Barat for imparting training to Women Folk in Ornamental fish Rearing and Breeding, Integrated Management of Coldwater Fish Culture for Economic Upliftment of SC/ST Population in Darjeeling Hills and for Establishment of Rural Bio-resource Complex in North Bengal, respectively. These projects, therefore, helped us to fulfill the objectives of the Fisheries Research and Training Centre. At present, work is continuing in the form of training the beneficiaries in the art of ornamental fish culture, research on endemic fish species and holding workshops.

Presently one ponds is being maintained for rearing the Indian Major Carps viz. Catla catla (Catla) to carry out current research work on the somatic growth and reproduction in carps as a part of the ongoing research project funded by CSIR, Govt. of India to Dr Sourav Mukherjee, Department of Zoology. In addition to the Catla catla, the rearing of Labeo rohita (Rohu), Cirhinus mrigala (Mrigala), Danio rerio (Zebrafish), Puntius sp. (Punti) are also being maintained simultaneously with future research aptitude. The other two stocking ponds primarily sheltered the air-breathing fishes viz., Heteropneustes fossilis (Singhi), Clarias batrachus (Magur), etc. Besides, all the ponds are also housing various kinds of phytoplankton and zooplankton, which serve the natural food for fish, and serve as a vital component of the pond ecosystem in maintaining primary productivity.

The ponds of the Fishery Research and Training Centre are being used for experimental purpose, while an extended Aquaculture Unit, Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal has been developed for rearing and breeding of some ornamental and edible fishes and thus having an area of 1809.5 square feet.

In view to augment fish seed production and propagate endangered species of fish (edible and ornamental) of Eastern Himalaya regions optimization of the rearing hill stream fish in captivity has been done and is continuing. The Centre has initiated rearing of some fish species like Katli (Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis), Barilius, Ctenops nobilis (Noble gourami), Gold fish, Milky carp, Rohu, Catla, Bata, Anabas and Puntius for brood stock development and has successfully bred ornamental live bearers like Sword Tail, Black Molly and Guppy along with egg layers (ornamental and edible) like Gold fish, Barilius and Ctenops nobilis. It has successfully standardized the protocol for live food production and transferred the technology to the farmers. Several fish farmers (women included) of the area had got the opportunity to learn and gain knowledge on the basic techniques of ornamental fish farming in the backyard of their house, integrated fish farming along with horticulture and livestock in Darjeeling hills and preparation of fishery by-products along with counseling regarding entrepreneurship development for aiding in their socio-economic upliftment.

There is hardly any information on the ecology and fisheries of rivers of the Eastern Himalayas. Several pioneering contributions have been made by researchers of the Centre and Department over the years and have contributed to build a database on the distribution of fish species in Darjeeling and Coochbehar districts for wider understanding of the specific problems at the farm level. They have also provided practical inputs for current developmental interventions in the region. As reported, a total of 65 species of fish belonging to 3 orders, 10 families and 39 genera were found in Teesta (Darjeeling district) which was higher than 25 species of fish belonging to 5 families and 15 genera observed in Relli (Darjeeling district). Similarly, 138 indigenous fish species belonging to 31 families were identified in Kaljani river (Cooch Behar district), while 58 species having ornamental value and 55 species having the food value have also been recorded.

Fisheries Research and Training Centre, Department of Zoology, Organized two days Workshop on “Skill Upgradation on Processing of Fish and Fishery Products” in collaboration with Department of Fish Processing Technology, WBUAFS, Kolkata on August 13-14, 2015 to the target people comprising Local Unemployed Male and Female Folks, Women of Self Help Group and Students.

In recent years also, FRTC has conducted two very successful Hands-on Training workshops with the fish farmers of the northern part of West Bengal to promote aquaculture. The first one was on 2nd& 3rdFebruary 2019 on “Fish Nutrition and Feeding Management in Aquaculture for Sustainable Development”. In this workshop, different notable invited Scientists and Technical Experts delivered the lecture on different aspect of aquaculture and provided hands-on training to the farmers.

The second workshop was conducted on “Fish Disease Management in Aquaculture” on 2nd& 3rdFebruary 2020. Dr. Basanta Kumar Das (Director, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata) delivered the keynote talk in the workshop, Prof. Gadadhar Dash (Professor and Head, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, Kolkata), Dr. Farhana Hoque (Scientist, Fish Health Management Division, Regional Research Centre, ICAR-CIFA, Rahara, Kolkata), Dr. SanjoyBhowmick (Chief Technical Officer, ICAR- Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata) delivered the lecture as well as provided hands-on training especially to the Fish Farmers from different districts of North Bengal region.