Fisheries Science and Engineering

Fisheries Science and Engineering is one of the key disciplines within the Faculty of Natural Resources. The undergraduate program in this field was first offered at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in Fall 2011, while the Master’s program in Aquatic Reproduction and Breeding was launched in Fall 2021.

The undergraduate program is designed to train specialists in a wide range of fisheries-related fields. Core areas of expertise include ichthyology, reproduction and breeding of aquatic organisms (fish, shrimp, shellfish, mollusks, and aquatic plants), aquaculture engineering, nutrition of cultured species, fishery product processing, fishing and exploitation of aquatic resources, as well as freshwater and marine ecology.

In the context of rapid population growth and limited natural food resources, aquaculture has emerged as one of the most significant food production industries of the 21st century. With its direct relevance to food security, organic production, and sustainable strategies in non-military defense, aquaculture is increasingly recognized as a vital sector.

The field encompasses the production of farmed species such as cold-water and warm-water fish, crustaceans (shrimp, crayfish, lobster), mollusks (edible shellfish), reptiles (crocodiles), and ornamental fish. In addition, it extends to the development of fishery products with nutritional, pharmaceutical, and even cosmetic applications—making Fisheries Science and Engineering a highly attractive and multidisciplinary field of study and practice