The Mirza Koocheck Khan Higher Fisheries Education & Training Centre

Both Iran’s inland waters and northern Caspian Sea coastline hold considerable potential for sustainable aquaculture development. In recognition of this potential, a ‘Higher School of Icthyology’ was established in Gilan Province in 1969 to provide vocational training related to fisheries and aquaculture. In 1991, the school was expanded and renamed the Mirza Koocheck Khan Higher Fisheries Education Centre. Ideally situated adjacent to both warm and cold water fish propagation and farming sites and sturgeon hatcheries, the Mirza Koocheck Khan centre provides unique training facilities and is well regarded at both the national and regional level.

Afghan participants in a training course at the Mirza Koochek Khan Higher Education and Training Centre, Iran.

The centre’s main activities are the provision of long term degree courses in aquaculture, fish health, fisheries processing and fishing technology. There are currently 170 full-time students undertaking degrees and more than 500 have graduated to date. Additional courses in propagation and culture or ornamental fish, management of fishery resources and marine biology are under consideration.
 

The centre also offers short term in-service training courses aimed at upgrading the skill and practical knowledge of Iran’s fisheries workers. The courses are organized and implemented routinely every year after completion of a needs analysis in various sectors of Iranian fisheries. Some courses are jointly established through the collaboration of major international bodies such as FAO. Past courses have included cryopreservation and short-term storage of sturgeon sperm, the reproductive physiology of fishes, enclosed aquaculture systems, pen and cage culture, cold-water fish nutrition and the principles of cold-water fish pond design and construction. Over the last ten years more than 5,000 people have attended training courses at the centre.

The centre also provides occasional regional training courses. In 2001, a cold water fish farming course was held for fisheries experts from the Tajikistan Republic and in 2004 for fisheries staff from neighbouring Afghanistan. The course addressed the biology and culture of cold water fish species including trout in which Iran is highly experienced, water quality, nutrition, health, farm design and the preparation of farming plans.

In total the Mirza Koocheck Khan Higher Fisheries Education and Training Centre has 52 staff operating in four educational departments: Aquaculture and Aquatic Health, Fisheries Processing, Fishing Technology and Fisheries Resources Management. The centre’s educational and training facilities include:
• A one hectare fish farm
• A fishing technology workshop and pilot plant
• Laboratories for hydrology and hydro chemical analysis, fish health and disease, and fisheries processing.
• An ichthyology museum
• Six classrooms of 45 person capacity
• An amphitheatre seating 150 people
• A library and computer centre
• Two dormitories for student accommodation.

The Mirza Koochek Khan centre enjoys strong linkages with other national and international institutions through membership in the Association of the state universities of the Caspian Sea States, and through collaborative links with the Atyrau Institute of Oil & Gas, Astrakhan State Technical university and the State universities of Tehran , Esfahan, Guilan , Hormuzgan , Golestan, Sistan and Baluchestan. The centre is a member of the Scientific Compilation Board of Vocational Educational Materials, and a member of the Shilat Educational Planning Core.

For further information about the Mirza Koochek Khan Higher Fisheries Training and Education Centre write to:
Km 5, Rasht Industrial City
P.O. Box : 41635-3836
Iran
Email: itvft@itvgil.ac.ir