My research interests include application of bioinformatics and computational biology tools in deciphering useful information from genomic datasets. I have 20 years’ experience in statistical programming, developing web-portals, data mining, linux administration and handling bioinformatics tools. I am the developer of statistical programme Web Agri Stat Package (WASP) which is being widely used in research and academic circles. I have developed several online databases in the fields of aquaculture and agriculture using LAMP (Linux Apache Mysql & PHP) tools.
My work focuses on remote sensing and geographic information system applications for sustainable aquaculture particularly site selection, environmental impact assessment and planning for climate change. I joined the Indian Agricultural Research Service in 1993 and started the work on the use of remote sensing data for brackishwater aquaculture development and management. I am a recipient of the Young Scientist Award from the Asian Fisheries Society; the Dr. H. S. Sen Award from the Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research and the Best Paper Award from the College of Fisheries, Toothukudi. My publications include 50 peer reviewed research papers and ten book chapters. I have a Master of Engineering in Agriculture from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, a Doctorate in Civil engineering from Anna University and serve as a reviewer in the journal Estuarine Coast Shelf Science.
Professor Jiansan Jia, a Chinese national, joined the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1998, and has dedicated all his efforts in promoting sustainable development and management of fisheries and aquaculture at global and regional levels. He has been the Chief of Aquaculture Service for 15 years, overseeing the FAO aquaculture programme through provision of policy advice, technical assistance and information and knowledge sharing and capacity building for developing countries. He was appointed Deputy Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of FAO in 2012. Before FAO, Professor Jia worked for the Ministry of Agriculture in China for more than 20 years, holding a number of leading positions at local and central governmental and non-governmental institutions. He was involved in agriculture and rural development, fisheries and aquaculture management and participated extensively in bilateral and multi-lateral fisheries negotiations as well as distant water fishing operations, and supervised and coordinated international cooperation between China and various governments and international organisations in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. He retired from FAO in 2017 and is now a Visiting Professor at the Shanghai Ocean University in China.
My research interests include aquaculture environmental monitoring and fishing industry chains. I have 15 years’ experience in international training and education program management. So far, I have published over sixteen academic papers as first author, completed over 200 project proposals on international cooperation and have been involved in over 80 international training and technical consultancy programs as one of leading coordinators.
My current research interests include fish and shellfish health management particularly in brackishwater ecosystems. I have lead research programmes on disease control in finfish and mud crabs; surveillance and management of fish and shellfish disease in aquaculture; and development of molecular diagnostics and genomic characterisation of betanodavirus causing viral nervous necrosis in marine fish aquaculture in India. I have played a lead role in coordination of a regional proficiency testing programme for six aquatic animal disease laboratories in India in collaboration with NACA and CSIRO (Australia); and in developing diagnostic capability for exotic diseases in fish and shrimp. I am currently engaged in surveillance of disease, particularly of emerging issues in brackishwater aquaculture such as Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei in shrimp. I have interests in genomics, molecular characterisation and host-parasite interaction of shrimp microsporidians with special reference to E. hepatopenaei.
My research interests include exploration of ecology and fisheries in rivers, wetlands and reservoirs, including fish diversity and alien species. I am interested in impact assessment of river-linking and environmental flow issues, sustainable enhancement of fish production in wetlands, Himalayan aquatic ecosystems and fisheries and climate change. I also hold interests in the domestication and breeding of Himalayan fish species, the farming and breeding of rainbow trout, and the extension of fish farming in the Himalayan region.
My research over twenty five years is focussed on aquatic invasive apple snails and other invasive alien species affecting food and nutrition security of smallholder farmers. With multidisplinary team members, I experiment and devise integrated crop management systems for ecologically sustainable management approaches against invasive alien species in the changing climate.
I have extensive work experience in innovative product development and promotion. I have been invited to share my work on invasive alien species and integrated pest management by many international organisations including FAO/IPPC, World Fish Center, CSIRO, JSPS, SP-IPM, IPPO, APEC, in 25 countries throughout the Asia-Pacifc region, Europe, Africa and South America. I have published four books and over 150 research articles on crop protection and production.
I am currently the TAA Pacific Coordinator; a CABI-SEA Associate; SAFE-Network Pacific Islands Coordinator; Technical Advisor on invasive apple snails to DELTAMED (Asociación de Deltas del Mediterráneo), Amposta, Spain; Senior Adviser on Invasive Apple Snails, NEURICE Project-Funded by European Commission, Spain; and Visiting Adjunct Professor at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji.
