My research interests are to establish the probiotic-induced immunomodulation and identify the immune mechanisms involved in aquatic animals, especially in shrimps, trouts and carps. I have developed technologies related to crustacean breeding and seed production, immunostimulation, and low input sustainable aquaculture systems such as organic and biofloc based farming approaches. I have also worked on development of aquaculture database systems, documentation and evaluation of indigenous technologies and knowledge, and exploration of fish germplasm resources.
I worked as PI and Co-PI in several projects on the diversification of species and system, disease surveillance and adoption of better management practices in shrimp farming. I worked in prestigious Institutions like Scottish Fish Immunology research Centre (UK) and Tokyo (Japan) on Molecular Immunology aspects in Aquaculture in 2011. I served in various capacities including Officer-in-Charge at Research Centres. I have been bestowed with Hirala Choudhari Best Young Scientist Award and IAES Gold Medal for contribution to science and Young scientist grant at International Marine Biotech Association, Newfoundland (Canada). I’m a first ranker in JRF and Agricultural Research Service Exam (ICAR, 1997) in my subject. I have seventy five international and national level peer reviewed journal publications and several technologies to his credit.
I have two research foci. The first is RNA-based silencing technology (RNAi) for shrimp disease control. Currently, my group and I have engineered organisms that are considered as ‘‘Generally Regarding As Safe’’ by the US Food and Drug Administration such as microalgae and probiotics for double-stranded RNA production. Another focused research is nucleic acid-based detection for shrimp and fish viruses with improved accuracy and increased sensitivity. I have developed multiplex PCR for convenient differentiation of shrimp specimens with real IHHNV infection, and those with insert types, which are practically used currently.
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.
37 years’ experience working in policy and planning, knowledge-based management, reservoir fishery management, community-based fisheries development projects, small-hold aquaculture for food security, training and capacity building in fisheries and ocean governance in Thailand and worldwide. Expert in planning and adaptive management of community-based projects; assessment of fish stocking programmes; early warning, disaster risk reduction for tsunami, earthquake, floods and impacts of climate change. I am a former Director General of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific.
My research interests include inland fisheries management and aquaculture development. I have 25 years research experience on culture-based fisheries development in Sri Lankan reservoirs. This has included the introduction of co-management to improve the socio-economic status of fishing communities; the development of community-based strategies to increase fish seed production to meet requirements at the national level; and the development of web-based systems to collect information related to culture-based fisheries (www.infis.gov.lk) with data input and maintenance handled by fishing communities. I am a member of the NACA Technical Advisory Committee (2015-2018) and a life member of Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
My research interests include the development of hatchery technology for induced breeding and seed production of brackishwater finfish species such as seabass, milkfish, pearlspot, brey mullet, cobia and ornamentals such as spotted scat and silver moony. Live feed production and its application for fish larviculture is also my interest. I have 25 years of experience in fish breeding, seed production, nursery rearing and grow out culture. Presently, I am working to popularise farming technologies for seabass, milkfish and pearlspot in brackishwater ponds and cages. I am keen to establish satellite fish seed rearing centres in different states to supply the seed locally with the participation of farmers and state government officials. I provide hands on training programmes in brackishwater fish seed production and culture.
My research interests are pragmatic extension approaches that are better fit for sustainable coastal aquaculture. These include: Collective compliance of good aquaculture practices by small scale farmers through social capital development, public-private partnership for effective aquaculture extension services, application of ICT and mobile phone based solutions for extension service delivery and real-time interaction with end users, climate smart aquaculture and alternative livelihood models for coastal fishers through customised cages in open brackishwaters. I have twenty years’ of research and extension experience in coastal aquaculture. I have worked with NACA on two programmes viz. collective efforts of small scale farmers in aquaculture and the aqua-climate initiative. We have developed and launched "vanamei shrimp app", a mobile application for providing real-time solutions to small scale farmers.
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.
My research interests include the reproductive biology, endocrinology and captive breeding of brackishwater fish. I have nine years research experience in brackishwater breeding of brackishwater fishes in captivity and their farming in different costal states of India, with hands-on experience in fish hatchery design and operation. I have demonstrated the hatchery operation and farming of different brackishwater fishes such as Asian seabass, milkfish, pearl spot and brackishwater catfish to small and marginal farmers. I am experienced in the establishment and operation of recirculating aquaculture systems for broodstock development and farming of fish and shrimp. I also have experience in the farming of crab and shrimp in box and pond systems, respectively.
My research interests include research and product development in the area of therapeutics and disease prevention. I have experience in development of immune stimulating agents and vaccines against viral diseases. I am a member in several committees under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India, and Central Drugs Standards Control Organization under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which help in preparing policy guidelines on regulation and monitoring of aquaculture drugs and importation of exotic species. I am also on the Editorial Board of the Indian Journal of Comparative Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases.
