The first regional centre of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at Thiruvallam here on January 6.
In the first phase, an administrative office-cum-guest house will be set up.
This centre of the Kochi-based university will focus on research activities, including fish processing, fish disease diagnosis, and fish conservation. The centre will introduce programmes for the empowerment of fisherfolk in south Kerala. The university has allocated Rs.9 crore for the centre in its budget for 2014-15.