Fishery Economics and Statistics

The Department of Fishery Economics and Statistics under Faculty of Fishery Sciences, WBUAFS was established in 1995 to offer courses on Fisheries Economics for undergraduate programmes. In 2011 and 2013 Department started offering M.F.Sc. in Fishery Economics and Ph.D. in Fishery Economics, respectively. This department concerned with the social science that focuses the production, distribution, consumption of goods and services, collection, analysis, interpretation, presentation and organization of data.

Economics is a major force in deciding viability of operations of any fisheries activities. The knowledge of economic analysis helps to evaluate the viability of investment in fisheries and aquaculture and it determines the efficiency of resource allocation, improve existing management practices, evaluate new culture technology, assess market potential and identify areas in which research success would have high potential. The study of fisheries economics can provide a basis not only for decision making process of stakeholders of fisheries sustainable development process but also for identifying research priorities and for formulating public fisheries and aquaculture policies.

The following information give an overall view of the department:

• Staff strength: At present, the department has one Professor, one Assistant Professor and one Guest Teacher, whereas one Assistant Professor and one Associate Professor post is vacant. Department having two supporting staffs where one technical staff is vacant.
• Facilities: The department has one computer laboratory for undergraduate and post graduate courses along with a seminar room.
• Award received by teacher: (i)“Lifetime Achievement Award” in “Bengal Aqua Expo-2017”, (ii) “Matsya-Sathi Samman” in “Bengal Aqua Expo-2018” and (iii) “Best Scientist Award-2020” in “Bengal Aqua Expo-2018” and to Prof. Somen Sahu by Sri Chandranath Sinha, Hon’ble MIC, Dept. of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal. (iv)“Best Teacher Award-2019” to Prof. Somen Sahu by West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences.
• (i) Selected for Science Academies’ Summer Research Fellowship Programme -2015 in National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru. (ii) Recipient of AIASA- Gold Medal Award -2017 for outstanding contribution in empowerment of youth in agriculture. (iii) Recipient of Best Research Scholar Award-2019 by Society of Human Resource & Innovation Agra, (U.P.). by Mr. Soumyadip Purkait, Assistant Professor, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences.
• Holding Different Positions by teacher: (i) “Honorary Statistical Adviser” (2019) by West Bengal Police Recruitment Board, Government of West Bengal; (ii) “Marine Advisor” (2017) by Department Of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal; (iii) “Advisor for implementing Dr. Sahu’s Networking Model” (2006) by Department Of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal to Prof. Somen Sahu. He also honoured as (iv) Expert Member of ICAR-CMFRI (Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute) in 2017 and (v) Expert Member of ESSO-INCOIS (Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services), Govt. of India, in 2006.
• Patent/ IPR: Two Intellectual Property Right (IPR) i.e., “Prof. Sahu’s Methodology of Distribution Dependent Equalization of Scores to Remove Examiner’s Bias and /or Difficulty Bias” and “Statistically Designed Techniques of Recruitment Process to Maximise Transparency and Minimise Errors: Prof Sahu’s Protocol” were registered by Prof. Sahu during this period.
• Webinar: Department organised one national webinar on “Capture Fisheries in Post-Pandemic (COVID-19) Situation: Environmental and Economic Perspectives” on 28th August, 2020 where 205 participants joined throughout the country.
• Teaching and Research: Besides conducting research, the Department of Fishery Economics and Statistics engaged in various extension activities to enhance the livelihood of fishers and to improve the socio-economic conditions of the associated personals. During 2016-2021 the department has produced 12 (total 20 since 2011) number of M.F.Sc. students and 1 (since 2012) Ph.D. scholars (awarded) (total 7 candidates registered in Ph.D in Dept.). Moreover, as Co-supervisor and Advisory Committee Members 8 (awarded) (total 15 since 2012) student were benefitted from the department.
• Research Paper Published:

1. Prof. Somen Sahu: 13 nos. (During 2016-2021) (In Total 48 nos. from 2010-2021)
2. Mr. Soumyadip Purkait: 11 nos. (2016-2021)

Placement: The alumni of the department are successfully placed as state level fishery officer in different states of the country, banking sector, private aquaculture sector, different projects under ICAR, state government and they are glorifying the department as well as the university as a whole.