Vet Varsity Fish Festival Attracts Huge Public Response

Ludhiana, March 12, 2025: The Fish Festival organized by College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, to create public awareness for promoting fish consumption in the state, attracted huge public response.

The Festival was inaugurated by Jitendra Jorwal, Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana as the Chief Guest and Dr. J.P S. Gill, Vice Chancellor as Guest of Honor, in the presence of officers of the University.

The festival envisaged to promote fish as healthy food, educated the visitors with the health benefits of fish; demonstrated value added ready to cook and ready to eat fish products of regional flavor. The event highlighted fish processing as an entrepreneurial activity for youth and the aspiring farming community. Different ornamental fish species presented eye-catching vibrance for fish hobbyists, especially pet loving kids.

The Deputy Commissioner was delighted to meet the young fisheries graduates, who had prepared different fish products and fish aquaria under experiential learning program. Highlighting the health benefits of fish, he impressed that it is necessary to organize such festivals to educate people, promote entrepreneurship and collect public feedback. Dr. Gill informed that the university is promoting fish and shrimp farming through its three-tier education, research and extension system. University has played an instrumental role in developing shrimp farming in inland saline water-logged waste lands of south west districts of the state and providing technical support for entrepreneurial push to young fisheries professionals, youth and prospective aspirants for self-reliance. University has developed various value-added fish and shrimp products and regular awareness programs are conducted to reinforce the domestic fish market, which will support regional farmers, besides offering nutritious animal protein, he added.

Dr. Meera D Ansal, Dean College of Fisheries informed that the fish products were sold like hot cakes before closing time, showing great public interest in the value added fish products. A survey was also conducted to record animal protein consumption preferences of the visitors to evaluate gaps in respects to fish consumption. Public entries of taglines for promoting fish consumption were received during the festival and the winner will be awarded with cash prize and trophy during the upcoming Pashu Palan Mela on 21-22 March, 2025, she added