Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has announced that the Fisheries College will begin its academic session in August.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Minister Shiyam said that the Fisheries Act mandates the establishment of an institute to impart training on fisheries, adding that as per the agreement with the Maldives National University to start fishing programmes, the Fisheries College will start its education this year.

"We are hopeful and confident that by August, we will start work with the Fisheries College programme," Shiyam said.

An MoU was signed between the Fisheries Ministry and the Maldives National University on December 27 to set up the Fisheries College, which had designed the courses to be taught at the college.

Minister Shiyam stated that the programmes being designed by the college would increase the profitability of the country's fisheries and hoped that education would be accessible up to PhD.