Focus of Research :
- Island Fisheries, Fishery biology and marine habitat
- Species Distribution Modelling, remote sensing and GIS
- Fishery stock assessment, management and policy
- Mariculture, site selection and MSP
Background :
I began my career at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) in 2016 and was based at the Veraval Regional Station, Gujarat, for nearly nine years. I hold a Ph.D. in Fisheries Resource Management from ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE). My research primarily focused on the application of machine learning, remote sensing, and GIS for understanding ocean bio-physical influences on fish distribution and abundance, fisheries resource assessment, stock status evaluation, fishery bycatch studies, marine spatial planning, and feeding ecology. Notably, I have developed innovative machine learning models, including a novel approach for identifying potential fishing grounds for ribbonfish in Indian waters, enabling short-term species-specific forecasts for targeted exploitation. I have also worked on remote sensing-based models to enhance the energy and economic efficiency of mid-water trawl fisheries.
Currently, I am based at CMFRI Field Laboratory, Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, where my focus has shifted towards island fisheries, fish ecology near atolls & FAD, ecosystem-based fisheries management, stock assessments, climate change, and marine habitat. My research continues to contribute to sustainable fisheries management using SDM modelling and remote sensing, and the promotion of eco-friendly mariculture practices such as GIS-based site selection for seaweed farming, ornamental fish culture techniques, and sea cage culture. My present role also emphasizes efforts in youth engagement in fisheries, capacity building, and promoting alternative livelihood opportunities in the Lakshadweep archipelago under projects like TSP.
Education :
- Ph.D., ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (Deemed University), Mumbai, India-2021
- M.F.Sc., College of Fisheries, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, India-2014
- B.F.Sc., College of Fisheries, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Mangalore, India-2012
Current Research Projects :
Sl No. | Title of Project | Funded By |
1 | Science for Sustainability: Developing an Integrated Assessment Framework (IAF) to support management decisions for marine fisheries of Kerala and Lakshadweep (FFD/IAF/09) | ICAR-CMFRI |
2 | Development of Integrated Scientific Fishery Management Approaches for Biological and Livelihood Sustainability of Tuna and Tuna like fishes along the Indian coast (FFD/LPF/08) | ICAR-CMFRI |
3 | Decoding the interplay of fisheries-dependent and fisheries-independent factors on elasmobranchs of India to improve conservation, sustainability, livelihood security and management (FFD/ELM/07) | ICAR-CMFRI |
4 | Developing a National Roadmap for Integrated Coastal Conservation and Fisheries Enhancement along the Indian coast through Artificial reefs (MD/AR/21) | ICAR-CMFRI |
| 5 | Understanding the Essential Fish Habitats (EFHs) for Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (MBEMD/EFH/29) | ICAR-CMFRI |
6 | Exploring Non-Conventional Fisheries Resources: Assessing their Fishery, Stock Status and Potential for Commercial Exploitation (FFD/ENCFR/33) | ICAR-CMFRI |
7 | Marine Mammal Stock Assessment in India | DoF, GoI |
8 | Establishment of Marine Ornamental Fish Aquaculture Enterprises Lakshadweep (Project code: 10113694) | NCDC |
9 | Mitigation of Climate Change to Blue Ecosystems of Lakshadweep: A Science-based Social Outreach Study | ICSSR |
10 | Seaweed farming feasibility assessment and exploration of promotional avenues along Kori, Padala creeks and Other selected locations along Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat coast | DoF, GoI |
11 | Establishment of SIT Hub for primitive Sidi Adivasi tribes of Gujarat for socio-economic upliftment through mariculture entrepreneurship | DST |
12 | National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture - Marine Fisheries | ICAR |
Awards & Recognitions :
- Academic Editor, Plos ONE Journal from June 2023-present.
- Nominated member to represent IOTC Working Party on Tropical Tunas, FAD, Scientific Committee, Data collection & Statistics, Methods.
- Young Scientist Award 2023, Society of Fisheries and life science, India.
- Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri Gold medal in Young Scientist Conclave-2023, College of Fisheries, Bihar Animal Science University, Kishanganj, India.
- GeoSmart India Excellent Award-2023, Geospatial World.
- Best Conference Poster Award, ICES/FAO Symposium on Innovation in Fishing Technology for Sustainable and Resilient Fisheries, Kochi, India-2023.
- Young Scientist Award, Asian Fisheries Society-India Branch-2022.
- Best Conference Paper Award, Societal Applications in Fisheries and Aquaculture using Remote Sensing Imagery, The Second International Symposium, Kochi, India- 2018.
- State Merit Award for PG students, Department of Education, U.T. of Lakshadweep- 2015.
Publications:
- Azeez, P. A., Rohit, P., Raman, M., Shenoy, L., Jaiswar, A. K., Koya, M. K, Mojjada, S. K., Divu, D. and Gopalakrishnan, A. (2023). Exploring biophysical links of catch rate from mid-water trawl fishery in the north-west coast of India, Eastern Arabian Sea: A remote sensing approach. Science of the Total Environment, 886: 1-14. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163975.
- Azeez, P. A., Rohit, P., Koya, M. K, Shenoy, L., Jaiswar, A. K., Raman, M., Rahangdale, S., and Divu, D. (2023). Bycatch species distribution from mid-water trawlers in the north-eastern Arabian sea: a step towards the implementation of marine spatial planning. Journal of Maps. pp. 1-13. 10.1080/17445647.2023.2192371.
- Jeena, N. S., Rahuman, S., Roul, S. K., Azeez, P. A., Vinothkumar, R., Manas, H. M., Nesnas, E. A., Margaret, M. R. A., Surya, S., Rohit, P., Abdussamad, E. M. and Gopalakrishnan, A. (2022). Resolved and Redeemed: A New Fleck to the Evolutionary Divergence in the Genus Scomberomorus Lacepède, 1801 (Scombridae) With Cryptic Speciation. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9:888463. 10.3389/fmars.2022.888463.
- Azeez, P. A., Raman, M., Rohit, P., Shenoy, L., Jaiswar, A. K., Koya, M. K. and Divu, D. (2021). Predicting potential fishing grounds of ribbonfish (Trichiurus lepturus) in the north-eastern Arabian Sea, using remote sensing data. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 42 (1): 322-342. 10.1080/01431161.2020.1809025.
- Divu, D., Mojjada, S. K., Azeez, P. A., Sukhadane, K. S., Muktha, M., Mojjada, R. K., Tade, M. S., Bhint, H. M. and Gopalakrishnan, A. (2021). Decision-making framework for identifying best suitable mariculture sites along north east coast of Arabian Sea, India: A preliminary GISMCE based modelling approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 284: 1-17. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124760.
