With increasing demand for intensive aquaculture technologies, a group of 61 enthusiasts from 13 districts of Punjab, including 
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rural women, attended 3 days capacity building training program on Biofloc based Aquaculture Technologies at College of Fisheries (COF), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University . Out of these 45 were from south western part of the State. The program had been customized to apprise the beginners with basics of Biofloc Aquaculture Technology (BAT) and provide them the fundamental practical training for establishing indoor and outdoor biofloc aquaculture systems with required confidence and expertise. The BAT, being a water efficient technology, requiring only 10-15% of water per kg fish production as compared to traditional aquaculture, is being promoted under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) of Department of Fisheries (DOF), GOI through state DoFs . Dr. Meera D Ansal, Dean, informed that a Capacity Building Resource Center (CBRC) for Intensive Aquaculture Technologies has also been established at College of Fisheries to cater the training needs of the regional stakeholders for sustainable expansion of intensive aquaculture technologies like BAT and recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) in Punjab and its neighboring north western states . Dr. Vaneet Inder Kaur, coordinated the training progra
m, offering extensive practical sessions on setup of biofloc units; sustainable biofloc production and manageme
nt; biosecurity; fish/shrimp production in indoor/outdoor biofloc units; water quality testing; feeding regime; and health management. All the sessions were technically coordinated by Dr. Amit Mandal & Dr. S. N. Datta. The participants were also apprised of various promotional schemes offering financial assistance. Dr. J. P. S. Gill, Vice Chancellor communicated that vet varsity is bridging the technical gaps for successful adoption of intensive aquaculture technologies through its State of Art CBRC and is looking forward to its extended outreach in the region, in special reference to saving significant amount of water and offering food security with ecological advantages.
