Research projects: 6 in-house projects, 9 sponsored projects including 2 NATP projects and 1 inter-institutional project (CMFRI-NBFGR)
	Research projects for MFSc dissertation/Ph.D thesis work

Expertise Available in the Division
	Fish and crustacean nutrition
	Feed technology
	Feed biotechnology
	Parasitology
	Immunology
	Veterinary pathology
	Microbiology
	Physiology
	Organic chemistry
	Molecular taxonomy
	Genetics & Breeding

In-house Projects in progress
	Development of feeds and optimization of feeding regimes for culturable crustaceans, marine finfishes and pearl oysters
	Disease investigation in marine fish and shellfish
Ciliate infection in prawn Protozoan parasite of prawn White Spot virus
Development of DNA fingerprints and probes for detection of finfish and shellfish pathogens Population genetic studies in Rastrelliger kanagurta and Sardinella longiceps Studies on the effect of toxins, pollutants and probiotics on fish health with special reference to immune system Haemopoietic tissue of prawn Haemocytes of edible oyster
Extraction and isolation of substances of pharmacological importance from marine organisms.

National Agricultural Technology Project
	Sub-project: Nutrition and Pathology in Mariculture (1999-2003).
	Sub-project: Spawning and seed production of finfish and shellfish under captive conditions (1999-2003).
	NATP-IVLP and ATIC projects (2000-2003).

I.C.A.R. Adhoc schemes
	Seed production of spiny lobsters (Panulirus spp) (1998-2001).
	Studies on the defense mechanisms and host-pathogen interactions in bacterial and viral diseases on crustaceans and bivalves (1997-2001).
	Studies on the disease management in fish/shellfish farming using bio-active substances from marine organisms (1998-2001).
	Induction of triploidy in commercially important bivalves (1998-2001).
	Studies on the immune response in shrimp Penaeus indicus (2000-2003).
	Evaluation of genetic hetergeneity in marine ornamental fishes using molecular genetic markers (2001-2004).

I.C.A.R. Revolving Fund
	Commercial pearl culture adopting onshore pearl culture technology (Feeding regimes of larval production on mass scale larval rearing).

Ministry of Environment & Forests-funded project
A view of the mechanized trawl landing centre at Rameswaram	Impact of bottom trawling on the ecology of fishing grounds and living resources of the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar

Research achievements in Nutrition
Developed several flexible feed formulae for fish and shellfish Low-cost shrimp feed production technolgy (MAHIMA) Solid-state fermentation technology for low-quality ingradients Diets for Indian white prawn, mullets, milkfish, grouper and mud crab Probiotics Eco-friendly feed management practices
Various steps involved in solid state fermentation

Research achievements in Pathology

Characterization of immune systems Characterization of defense mechanisms and host-pathogen reactions Farm advisory service – disease diagnostic services, prophylactic and management measures

Mycotoxicosis Shellfish defense cell Prawn blood cell

Research achievements in Genetics & Biotechnolgy

Triploid edible oysters DNA fingerprint patterns of fish pathogens Molecular diagnostics Genetic characterization of Indian mackerel and oil sardine

Mt DNA of oil sardine RAPD markers in mackerel AFLP polymorphisms

Research achievements in physiology
Spermatozoa of mullet	Hormonal sex-reversal in groupers Ovarian development in Indian white prawn using 5-hydroxytryptamine Ultra-structure of reproductive and endocrine systems of shrimps and fish

Scientist
S.No	Name	Designation	Area of work
1	Dr.R.Paul Raj	Principal Scientist & Head of Division	Fish & Shellfish nutrition
2	Dr.P.C.Thomas	Principal Scientist	Genetics
3	Dr.K.C.George	Principal Scientist	Immunology
4	Dr.D.Noble	Senior Scientist	Physiology
5	Dr.P.Jayasankar	Senior Scientist	Genetics
6	Mr.N.K.Sanal	Scientist (SS)	Parasitology
7	Dr.K.S.Shobana	Scientist (SS)	Pathology
8	Dr.Imelda Joseph	Scientist	Nutrition