Central Institute of Fisheries, Nautical & Engineering Training (CIFNET)

The Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET), formerly known as the Central Institute of Fisheries Operatives, is a marine studies centre located at Kochi, India, maintained by the Department of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry and Dairying of the Government of India. Established in 1963, it was set up to meet the statutory manning requirements of deep sea fishing vessels under the Merchant Shipping Act, and it aids research and development in the field. The institute is affiliated to the Cochin University of Science and Technology and has two other units, in Visakhapatnam and Chennai. It offers a Bachelor of Fisheries and Nautical Science degree, diploma courses in vessel navigation and marine fitting, and refresher courses for fishing grade exam aspirants. The institute also arranges training programmes for foreign nationals from countries such as Nigeria, Oman, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and others under schemes like the FAO fellowship, CFTC, SCAAP, Colombo plan, and ITEC. It operates three training vessels—M.V. Prashikshan I, M.V. Skipper II, and M.V. Tharangini—used for onboard practical training and qualifying sea service. CIFNET also conducts various short-term training programmes for fishermen, fishery officials, and students of fishery and engineering colleges.