Third Generation Bio-fuels – Microalgae – Awareness Programme

The Department of Aquatic Environment Management, Fisheries College and Research Institute is operating a project on “Exploring Omega-3 fatty acids from marine microalgae” sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Science & Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB), New Delhi, Government of India from 2019- 2022 at a cost of Rs.41.85 lakhs. In order to create awareness among the students community, one day awareness programme on “Commercially important marine microalgae for Industrial Applications” was conducted for students from VOC College, Thoothukudi on 18.11.2022 at this Institute. A total of 25 students of B.Sc. & M.Sc. degree from Department of Botany and Zoology have participated and benefited. Dr. B. Ahilan, Dean, Fisheries College and Research Institute presided over the inaugural programme, while narrating the importance of microalgae, he said that Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea are using the microalgae as a major source of food as it contains rich source of protein, pigments, vitamins and essential fatty acids whicih is required for human health. At present, the biomass of Spirulina - a fresh water blue green algae is currently being used as tablets, capsules and in liquid form in India because of its high nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties. It is the need of the hour to find an alternative source for production of bio-fuel from natural source. Due to enormous potential of marine microalgae, which can be effectively explored for application in human nutrition and bio-fuel production. Dr. P. Padmavathy, Professor and Head, Dept. of Aquatic Environment Management welcomed the gathering and insisted the importance of conducting this programme. Dr. V. Rani, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator of the SERB Funded Project has Co-ordinated the overall programme. Dr. D. Manimekalai and Th. S. Manickavasagam, Assistant Professor of Dept. of Aquatic Environment Management have assisted the programme.