Fisheries Laboratory
Good Colleges combine classroom teaching with laboratory experiments to ensure that their students grasp each and every concept thoroughly. It is imperative for colleges to have the latest and high quality science lab.
This lab has rare specimens of fishes, crustaceans, molluscs, etc. The major attraction of this lab is the Fish Catla weighing 4.8 Kg. Catla, known as Indian Major Carp, is a native of north Indian rivers. Another rare specimen is that of Lagocephalus inermis (Smooth blaasop or Smooth-backed Blowfish). This fish known as Kadal Makri in Malayalam, characterized by four sharp, plate-like teeth is able to cut through the nylon nets once they are caught causing extensive damage to the fishing nets. A lot of aquarium fishes including the Fish Miss Kerala add to the list of specimens. Different types of Prawns, Octopuses, Oysters and Mussels are also displayed in the lab.
There are slides of different Prawn larvae like Nauplius, Zoea, Mysis and post larvae. Zooplankton and Phytoplankton, which are the beautiful creatures in water bodies are preserved and exhibited in this laboratory. You can also observe different bacteria causing various diseases in fishes and human being. A high quality compound microscope is bought to observe microorganisms.
A live aquarium with beautiful and vibrant coloured fishes is also here to increase the ethic beauty of the lab. The lab is also equipped with a pH meter and is utilized by aqua farmers for determining the pH of pond water. Various calendars of fishes are displayed in the walls of the lab. In addition, photo albums of different aquatic plants and animals are also kept for reference. This fisheries lab is developed at a cost of 2.40 lakhs with ICAR fund. This Fisheries Laboratory was inaugurated by Mr. V.S. Sunilkumar, the Hon. Agriculture Minister of Kerala, on 4th July, 2016. The function is attended by the Hon. Vice Chancellor, Registrar of KAU and the Asso. Dean and staff members of the College of Co-operation and Banking.
