Why is the enrolment in the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences dwindling?

               Ever since the enrolment in the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) has dwindled starting years ago, the university administration and especially that of the college seemed to be puzzled.  During discussions, many reasons have been put forward and I was just wondering which of the factors really come into play.  But at least for the past two years this was not so. Thanks to the scholarships offered by the Department of Science and Technology and other scholarships.
              Going back to the issue of factors, it is my opinion ever since, that this field of study seems to belong to those classified by Filipinos as nonglamorous.  But of course this is is too simplistic a reason since so many factors come into play.  If it is nonglamorous but high-paying, it would still pick up takers I assume.  But as it is, and when you read all the discussions in Facebook of the group site UP College of Fisheries, there are some insiders who say that this glamour thing is not even a consideration.  On the other hand, one even asked, why are sons and daughters of Professors of the college do not encourage them to take fisheries.  The implication of this question is that even those who profess in the field of fisheries are not at all passionate in this field.  It is really complicated.  But glamour may not be the right term which may have resulted in a discussant in the same group site to throw tantrums at me just for asking about it.  Could the word be popular, high in status? Whatever it is, one thing for sure that the diminishing interest in the fisheries study is a worldwide phenomenon.  In Japan, for example, my very own alma mater, Tokyo University of Fisheries has now merged with another university and is now called Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.  One of the factors among many is the decreasing enrolment and perhaps the dwindling resources that the government provides.
               Is the obsession of some parents towards the nursing profession a factor in the decreasing enrolment in fisheries? Discussion in the higher administration of UPV tends to agree.  Nursing is a more glamorous profession if glamorous is loosely defined as a white collar job and high-paying.  White collar yes but only high-paying if one works abroad.  Otherwise, you better shift careers when you are to stay in the Philippines if you want to support your family well.

               If those people practicing in the fisheries profession say that the issue on glamour is not really there, then there is no point to the suggestion that for the college at UPV to attract more high school graduates, they should try to delete the word 'fisheries' in the degree title it offers such as B.S. Aquatic Biosciences.  Very strong opinions on Facebook point out that it is not the title of the degree but rather the revision of the curriculum should be made to make it more attractive.  We have already revised undergrad and grad curricula at the Institute of Aquaculture, and I wonder whether our increased in enrolment in the last 2 years has been due to this or the considerable addition of scholarships offered.  There was effort also in going around to entice high school students.  This is really helpful since I was enticed to want to enrol in Marine Biology when i was a fourth-year high school student.
          All in all, I would say that the factors contributing to the decreased enrolment are many and to me, foremost is the image of the profession which of course could be worked on gradually.  What do you think?