sustainable management of fish genetic resources

Dr. Uttam Kumar Sarkar has made significant contributions to exploring, evaluating, and characterizing the spatiotemporal pattern of fish biodiversity, biological traits, and population parameters of diversified fishes of the inland open waters. He has been involved in conceptualizing and adoption of the innovative approach of state fish for the first time in India for the conservation of fish genetic resources of the country. These innovations were made to assess and understand fish assemblages, spatial diversity patterns and habitat complexity of more than 30 Indian reservoirs and 50 wetlands, covering different climatic zones, for developing region-specific management practices. Dr. Sarkar has published 6 books, 3 policy documents, 3 fish diversity atlas, 10 new species and records, 5 databases and DNA barcoding of 72 freshwater fishes. He has also published over 260 research papers, with above 5000 citations and supervised or co-supervised 13 PhDs.

Dr. T. T. Ajith Kumar obtained his Masters degree and PhD in marine biology from Annamalai University and thereafter served 27 years in teaching, research, and extension at Annamalai University and ICAR. He previously served as an assistant professor and, presently, is a Principal Scientist and Head of the Centre of the ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Regional Centre at Kochi, India. He has scientific interests in breeding and rearing marine ornamental organisms, contributing significantly towards integrating marine ornamentals conservation and sustainable development. He has worked for the development of the community aquaculture units, marine ornamental village and nano aquaria towards the conservation of biodiversity and livelihood upliftment. He has published more than 200 articles (citation 3,500) besides, 23 books (including booklets and manuals) and 43 book chapters. Further, a team led by him discovered 17 new species of fish and shrimps and several new records to Indian waters.

Dr. Neeraj Sood is working as a Principal Scientist in the Exotics and Aquatic Animal Health Division of ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, India. He completed his postgraduation from CCS Haryana Agricultural University, India and doctorate from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, in Veterinary Pathology. He has over 26 years of experience working in the area of aquatic animal health and has published over 100 research papers. He has been involved in preparing the national documents on exotic aquatic species and quarantine. His areas of interest include disease diagnosis, development of fish cell lines and monoclonal antibodies, and understanding host-pathogen interaction. He is the Consortium Principal Investigator of the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases. He has also reported five new fish diseases.

Dr. Rajeev K. Singh is working as Principal Scientist and Head, Germplasm Exploration, Evaluation and Conservation Division of ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow. He earned post-graduation and a doctorate in Biotechnology. He has over 24 years of experience in the area of conservation genetics and genomics. He has characterized over 20 fish species, below the species level, which is utilized for management of genetic resources. He has sequenced and characterized the full genome of an anadromous fish and eight mitochondrial genomes. He has also been associated with developing sperm cryopreservation protocols. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research publications; co-authored FAO’s document on Genetic Management of Carps; discovered seven fish species, new to science; and supervised/co-supervised six doctoral along with over 25 postgraduate/graduate researchers.

Dr. Ravindra Kumar has 29 years of research experience in the areas of characterization and cataloguing of fish genetic resources. His area of research focuses on physical chromosome map development, whole genome/transcriptome sequencing and analyses, genomic resource databases development/maintenance, cell line development/maintenance for conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources. He was involved in deciphering the whole genome information of Clarias magur and Labeo rohita. He has generated cytogenetic profiles of over 82 fish species from India and assessed genotoxic potential of around 15 pollutants; developed/ maintaining 6 genomic resource databases/portal/webserver. He is presently working as Principal Scientist in Genomics and Computational Resources Division at ICAR-NBFGR. He also served as Head, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, ICAR-NBFGR and Director (Acting). He has published 134 Research Papers, 2 Books, 30 Popular articles with over 3216 citations.

Dr. Lalit Kumar Tyagi has over 23 years of professional experience in research, extension and training at ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, India. He worked on 20 research projects funded by various agencies on issues related to fisheries resources like co-management of aquatic resources, orientation of fisherfolks towards fish conservation, functioning of fishing cooperative societies, exploration and assessment of fish diversity and traditional knowledge; harmonizing biodiversity conservation and fish genetic resource, evaluation of wildlife protected areas; models for livelihood enhancement of tribal communities using fisheries enterprises and explorations & conservation of fisheries resources in north-eastern region of India. He has 35 research publications, co-edited 2 books and a national guideline, contributed 12 book chapters, 9 review articles, 35 popular articles.