"Harnessing the Science of Fisheries for Food, Nutrition and Livelihood"
Will be Updated Soon
The Directorate of Incubation and Vocational Training in Fisheries (DIVF), formerly known as the Centre of Fisheries Management, Policy and Planning (established in 2015), was renamed as per USO No.339/S1/TNJFU/XIVBoM/A.14.10.1/2018 & Rc.No.548/S1/TNJFU/XIVBoM/A.14.10.1/2018, dated 14.04.2018, of the Registrar, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University (TNJFU), Nagapattinam. The renaming came into effect on 14.04.2018, with the vision of creating skilled technical manpower in harvesting and post-harvesting technologies for manning manned/deep-sea fishing vessels and working in fish processing industries.
To achieve excellence in vocational education, research, and training by developing field-level experts in the domains of fishing and fish processing.
DIVF functions through multiple centres strategically located across Tamil Nadu:
The PPIIFT offers the B.Voc. (Industrial Fishing Technology) degree programme, recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, designed to produce technically skilled paraprofessionals ready to contribute effectively to the fishing and marine engine industries. The programme is accredited by the Directorate General of Shipping (F.No.25-104/12/2020-NT-DGS, Comp. No.3848, dated 28.04.2025)
Additional essential facilities include: Marine Engine Workshop, Navigational Chart Reading Hall, Classrooms with audio-visual aids and internet access, SMART Classroom for online instruction, Library, Examination Hall, Conference Hall, Educational Technology cum Placement Cell, and Administrative Offices. Established in 2019 with financial assistance under the NADP scheme, Government of India, titled “Establishment of Fisheries Training Institute at Mandapam”, the institute had a total project outlay of ₹4.5 Crore. The first batch of B.Voc. (IFT) commenced on 30.09.2019, with an annual intake capacity of 20 students, duly approved by the UGC.
Our flagship academic program, the B.Voc. (IFT), is designed to develop skilled professionals capable of contributing effectively to the fishing and marine sectors. Students are prepared for diverse roles including Fishing Gear Technician, Fishing Boat Deckhand, Fishing Boat Seaman, Fishing Boat Driver, Fishing Boat Mechanic, Deep Sea Fisher, Fishery Assistant, Bosun and Skipper. By integrating comprehensive classroom instruction with intensive practical training, the curriculum ensures that graduates are industry-ready from day one, possessing both technical expertise and hands-on experience.
Fishing vessels typically comprise two operational sections:
The institute’s infrastructure primarily focuses on training deck-side personnel, including Vessel Navigators (Mate Fishing Vessels) and deck crew. To enhance its training capabilities, a Marine Engine Workshop was established at Ariyaman Beach, Ramanathapuram, with a total budget of ₹1.20 crore, supported under the NADP scheme of the Government of India in 2023.
This facility serves as a core infrastructure unit to impart training for engine-side crew, particularly through programs such as “Marine Engine Fitter”, modelled on CIFNET, Cochin. In addition, the workshop provides engine repair and maintenance services to the fishermen of Tamil Nadu, thereby extending technical support to the fishing community while enhancing hands-on training opportunities for students.
The Paraprofessional Institute of Industrial Fishing Technology (PPIIFT), located at Ariyaman Beach, Ramanathapuram, has been established under the funding support of the National Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), New Delhi, with a total budget allocation of ₹4.5 crore. The institute has been offering a Bachelor of Vocational (B.Voc.) degree in Industrial Fishing Technology since 2019. It aims to produce second-level technical and skilled paraprofessionals to meet the manpower requirements of the fishing, nautical, and marine engineering sectors.
The Paraprofessional Institute of Fisheries Technology (PPIFT) was instituted under the 110 announcement of the Government of Tamil Nadu with extending a grant of Rs.5.00 crores to offer a three years Bachelor of Vocational (B.Voc.) degree programme in Industrial Fish Processing Technology during the month of October, 2018 at Madhavaram campus, Chennai by the Government Order (MS) No. 48 Animal Husbandry Dairying and Fisheries Department dated: 13.03.2018. Being a skill initiative and capacity building programme, UGC has also given a grant of Rs. 1,04,50,000/- (Rupees One crore four lakhs and fifty thousand only). The first installment of Rs.43.30 lakhs had been released for the year 2019-20 vide No.F.2-306/2018 (NSQF) dated: 30.05.2019 of University Grants Commission, New Delhi.
To facilitate both onshore and onboard training programmes for B.Voc. (IFT) students and fishermen engaged in Deep Sea Fishing, the CIVF, Thoothukudi has implemented a Government of Tamil Nadu-funded project titled “Establishment of Deep-Sea Fishing Technology Training and Management Centres at Thoothukudi and Thengapattinam”.
This initiative, operational since 2019, has a total budget outlay of ₹3.82 Crore and has established two state-of-the-art training and management centres—one at Thoothukudi and another at Thengapattinam, under the respective CIVF units.
Deep Sea Fishing Technology Training and Management centre functioning under the CIVF, Thoothukudi has advanced onshore facilities related to Deep Sea fishing, Marine Engineering and Nautical science with the related equipments housed in permanent demonstration cum exhibition chambers besides having a training hall with Audio visual laboratory having recent documentary films on topics related to the Deep Sea fishing related equipments. This center has a Fish net fabrication hall specially meant to conduct practical demonstrations of designing and fabricating Deep Sea fishing gears. This center is proposed to have INCOIS display board shortly to disseminate information related to Potential Fishing Zone and that would be one of the education components for the B.Voc. (IFT) students. Students studying B.Voc. (IFT) will undergo shore based special training on aspects related to Deep Sea fishing from this centre.
Deep Sea Fishing Technology Training and Management center functioning under the CIVF, Thengapattinam has constructed a Deep Sea Research cum Training vessel (longlining cum gill netting) of 22.7 meters OAL by the Cochin Shipyard, Kochi under the Government of Tamil Nadu funded scheme. The vessel would help to conduct practical classes on board demonstration of Deep Sea Longlining, Deep Sea Gill netting fishing, Marine communication, Seamanship and Navigation to the students undergoing B.Voc. (IFT) program from the first year to third year under different skill educational components courses. This center will also have the INCOIS display board to disseminate information related to the Potential Fishing Zone similar to that of CIVF, Thoothukudi
| Sl.no | Name of the Scheme | Funding Agency | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Establishment of Fisheries Training Institute | NADP | 450 lakhs |
| 2 | Establishment of Deep-Sea Fishing Technology Training and Management Centres at Thoothukudi and Thengapattinam | GoTN | 382 lakhs |
| 3 | Evolving artificial fish bait for long line fishing using bio-polymer and bio-attractants derived from marine fish processing wastes | DBT | 44.56 lakhs |
| 4 | Training Facility on Safety at sea for fishermen at Directorate of Incubation and Vocational Training in Fisheries, TNJFU, Mandapam | NADP | 120 lakhs |
| Sl.no | Title of the Training programmes | Duration | No. of programmes | Total beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Awareness program on “Responsible Fishing, Deep Sea fishing, Sea safety” | 1 day | 30 | 1300 |
| 2 | "Engine maintenance and Safety of fishermen at Sea for mechanized fishing vessels operators" | 6 days | 5 | 124 |
| 3 | Deep Sea Fishing Methods | 6 days | 4 | 120 |
| 4 | On-board Deep-Sea training | 6 days | 6 | 120 |
| 5 | Care and Maintenance of Marine Engine and Sea Safety for fishermen | 6 days | 6 | 125 |
| 6 | Deep Sea Fishing Techniques | 7 days | 3 | 60 |
| 7 | Gill net making and mending | 10 days | 3 | 50 fisherwomen |
| 8 | Marine Engine Repair and Maintenance | 10 days | 2 | 40 |
| 9 | Boat Driver License Certificate Course | 7 days | 8 | 160 |
| Sl.no | Name | Designation | Working on Regular/Contractual basis | Mobile Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. S. Athithan | Director i/c | Regular | 9442288850 |
| 2 | Mr. M. Kalaiarasan | Assistant Professor & Principal i/c | Regular | 9677538211 |
| 3 | Mr. A. Rosary William | Assistant | Regular | 9597023402 |
| 4 | Capt. A. Sakayarex | Skipper | Contractual | 9894480499 |
| 5 | Er. M. Sivasudalaimani | Mechanical Engineer | Contractual | 9790908343 |
| 6 | Er. M. Thillaimurugan | Engine Mechanic | Contractual | 9159843530 |
| 7 | Mr. S. Ganapathy | Deckhand | Contractual | 9943427982 |
| 8 | Mr. K. Dineshkumar | Deckhand | Contractual | 9080143477 |
| 9 | Mrs. S. Seeneeswari | Typist | Contractual | 6369192863 |
| 10 | Mrs. S. Paktagowri | Office Assistant | Contractual | 6385562273 |
| 11 | Mr. K. Palani | Night Watch | Contractual | 7449148307 |
| 12 | Mrs. S. Ambika | Attender | Contractual | 9952697695 |
| Sl.no | Name | Designation | Working on Regular/Contractual basis | Mobile Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Th. G. Antonysamy | Skipper | Contractual | 8523956941 |
| 2 | Th. M. Maria Jackson | Bosun | Contractual | 8825770085 |
| 3 | Th. Joseph Pitsroy Roche | Engine Driver | Contractual | 9867112443 |
| 4 | Th. S. Leon | Deckhand | Contractual | 8760684585 |
| 5 | Th. A. Antony Sahaya Jegatheesh | Deckhand | Contractual | 9867112443 |
| Sl.no | Name | Designation | Working on Regular/Contractual basis | Mobile Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Th. G. Varghees | Fishermen | Contractual | 7598476305 |
| 2 | Th. C. Paulraj | Fishermen | Contractual | 8838603722 |
Institute of Industrial Fishing Technology (IIFT),
Directorate of Incubation and Vocational Training in Fisheries (DIVF),
Ariyaman Beach,
Ramanathapuram – 623 519.
