My research over the past 25 years has been focused on different aspects of marine crustacean husbandry and management with an emphasis on crustacean reproduction in relation to seed production and farming systems. My work has focussed on seed production of penaeid shrimps Penaeus monodon, P. indicus and mud crabs Scylla spp., their reproductive physiology and production systems. I have standardised and developed hatchery production of mud crab species and developed a model for land based and open water integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems. I have been principal and co-investigator for many projects related to these disciplines.
I have worked at CIBA since 1990 and currently head the Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division, leading the research programme on aquatic animal disease surveillance with special reference to emerging issues in brackishwater aquaculture. I provide expert services to the Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India, for aquatic animal quarantine, import of aquaculture inputs and related technical matters. This has included work on the import risk analysis for the introduction of Pacific white shrimp to India. I previously worked at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Cochin beginning in 1984, and carried out research on the occurrence of heterotrophic microorganisms and mercury contamination in coastal and marine waters.
My research interests include microalgae cultivation and processing, biodiesel production, astaxanthin production, fermentation, membrane fabrication, photobioreactor, environmental science (ocean acidification), bioactive peptides, pyroligneous acid liquids, pineapple bromelain and management. I hold a PhD in bioprocess engineering holder and am study a further PhD in business administration. I am a reviewer for several journals and R&D director for several companies.
My research interests include aquatic animal health epidemiology, disease diagnostics and shrimp larval pathology. Since the early years of my career I have been interested in epidemiological studies on diseases and biostatistics. Presently I am working on active aquatic animal disease surveillance, with special reference to hepatopancreatic microsporidiasis, caused by Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei on the south east coast of India.
My research interests focus on management of soil and water quality in the shrimp pond environment to achieve sustainable production. Nutrient dynamics and budgeting using tracer studies, application of nanotechnology, rejuvenating disused aquaculture ponds, mitigation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and management of pond health in bio-floc systems are some areas of my work. I have 15 years of experience in soil and water chemistry of aquaculture ponds. My current research areas are the sediment-water interface as a pond health indicator; influence of abiotic factors on the physiology of shrimp; adaptation of shrimp to varying salinities; dynamics of water quality in lined ponds, integrated aqua-agri model and farmer’s livelihood improvement projects.
