Thrust Areas of Research:
Environment and Fisheries, PFZ validation, Eco-biological modelling
Evaluation of ecosystem services and processes, marine litter and other anthropogenic impacts
Development of restoration protocols for mangroves, awareness campaigns
Focus on seaweeds, seagrass habitats, plankton, marine mammals, coastal and pelagic birds
Climate change –focus on carbon sequestration, Ocean acidification, society based programs Development of Indian finfish and shellfish biodiversity knowledge base to foster the assessment of biological diversity of Indian seas.
Biodiversity valuation of marine organisms in selected marine ecosystems along the Indian coast.
Assessment of fishing impacts on biodiversity loss with reference to threatened species and fisheries management.
Monitoring the conservation biology of economically important and threat-prone species and fragile ecosystem.
Development and Maintenance of database of Maine Biodiversity Museum to dissiminate the information on the web to make it easily accessible to all
Ongoing Research Projects:
SI.No. | Project title & Code | Present Status/ Remarks |
---|---|---|
1 | Micro-level fishery environmental management plan for selected areas for sustainable production (FEM/HBT/27). PI: Dr.D. Prema | Inhouse Continuing 2017-2022 |
2 | Observation and monitoring of coastal/marine pollution - its impact on sea life, prevention and mitigation (FEM/CMP/28).Dr. Asha P S. | Inhouse Continuing 2017-2023 |
3 | Marine Macrophytes in India-Resources dynamics & Ecosystem services (FEM/MPH/29). PI: Dr. Bindu Sulochanan | In-house Continuing 2017-2024 |
4 | Impacts of extreme weather events on marine fisheries in selected ecosystems of Northern Indian Ocean- A geoinformatics approach (FEM/GIS/38). PI: Dr. Shelton Padua | In-house Continuing 2020-2025 |
5 | Developing Conservation Plan for Biologically Sensitive Areas along the Indian coast (MBD/CNS/30). PI: Dr. K. Vinod | Inhouse Continuing 2017-2022 |
6 | Assessment of resilience potential of coral reefs (MBD/CRL/31). PI: Dr. K. R. Sreenath | Inhouse Continuing 2017-2024 |
7 | Jellyfish bloom dynamics in coastal and marine ecosystems of India (MBD/JBD/32). PI: PI: Dr. Saravanan R. | Inhouse Continuing 2017-202 |
8 | Investigations on diversity of marine viruses with special reference to finfish viruses and bacteriophages along the southern coast of India (MBD/VIR/39). PI: Dr. K.S. Sobhana | Inhouse Continuing 2020-2023 |
a | Assessment of marine mammal stock and by-catch and sea turtle by-catch for their protection PI: Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan | MPEDA funded, 2020-2023 |
b | Our common future ocean in the Earth system quantifying coupled cycles of carbon, oxygen, and nutrients for determining and achieving safe operating spaces with respect to tipping points (COMFORT) PI: Dr. K. R. Sreenath | MoES – NERCI funded, 2020-2023 |
Completed Research Projects:
a. In-house Projects :
Impact of anthropogenic activities on coastal marine environment and fisheries (FEM/01) |
Impact and yield study of environmental changes on distribution shifts in small pelagic along the Indian coast (FEM/02) |
Development of fisheries ecosystem restoration plans for critical marine habitats (FEM/RE/03) |
Valuation of marine and coastal ecosystem in Kadalundi Community Reserve of Kerala Biodiversity Board |
Bioinventorying and Biodiversity Valuation of Marine Organisms in Selected Marine Ecosystems along the Indian Coast |
Investigations on vulnerable coral reef ecosystem of Indian waters with special emphasis on formulation of management measures for conservation |
Assessment and valuation of coral reef island ecosystem |
b. Sponsored Projects :
Impact, adaptation and vulnerability of Indian marine fisheries to climate change – Phase II - |
Validation of PFZ advisories brought out by INCOIS among artisanal and small mechanized sector fishermen along Kerala coast to compare the advantages derived for different types of fishing operations / targeted species - |
Studies on marine mammals of Indian EEZ and the contiguous seas - |
c. Consultancy Projects :
Consensus Building and Environmental Studies on Marine Outfall for Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project (MSDP) Phase II |
Marine EIA study for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant |
Significant Achievements in the last 5 years
Significant Achievements in the last two years |
Enhancing Competitiveness 1. Marine Biodiversity Division of ICAR-CMFRI has developed a first aid kit - Jelly Safe - to treat the wounds caused by the Jelly Stings on the fishers of the south-east coast of India. Traditional fishers were trained in recognising the venomous jellyfishes and how to apply this first aid kit in order to prevent major medical conditions due to the toxic stings. 2. Marine Biodiversity Division of ICAR-CMFRI has trained government staffs from Department of Science and Technology of Lakshadweep Administration on Procedures and Practices for maintenance and up-keeping of Marine Taxonomy Lab/Museum. The trained staffs could successfully implement the practices they have learned from us and initiate the creation of lab and museum activities in their department facility at Kavaratti Island. Improved Governance 1. As per the advisories submitted by ICAR-CMFRI, Tamil Nadu Fisheries Dept and Ramanathapuram District Collector have directed to install information boards and signage on Jellyfish sting prevention and management, along the beaches and landing centres near to the coastal waters of Palk Bay where the Jellyfish occurrence reported. Such advisories not only benefit fishers but also a large number of pilgrims who visit Rameswaram from different parts of the country. The signages were given QR code to link to the multilingual guide on jellyfish sting management in order to get the information through mobile in 9 different languages. Enhanced sustainability and conservation objectives 1. Successful development of the 16 fish cell lines that can help in marine fish virology, toxicology, cytogenetics and gene expression studies. 2. Six new species of sponges Hyattella repandus, Hyattella macrophylla, Hyattella foliata, Hyattella vedalainensis, Hyattella diffusa and Hyattella oblongus, a cone snail Conus laccadivensis and one snake eel Xyrias anjaalai were newly described. 3. Two species of Acroporid corals Acropora cf. polystoma and Acropora efflorescens were reported for the first time from the western coast of India 4. Redescription of the jellyfish, Crambionella annandalei (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) from Indian waters 5. CATALOGUE-2018 Marine Biodiversity Museum CMFRI Special Publication No. 129 6. Investigations on the migratory and breeding seabirds in the Indian waters and their interaction with fishery. |
Technologies/Concepts/Findings
Fisheries and Environment
ANTROPOGENIC IMPACTS
HABITATS
MARINE MAMMALS AND SEA BIRDS
CLIMATE CHANGE
MARICULTURE
BIODIVERSITY