I have a Marine biology and Aquaculture Research, Extension / Outreach and Training background with special emphasis on tropical mariculture, fisheries and conservation of Marine Finfish and Shellfish. Please note that bivalves including mussels and pearl oysters are my primary field of expertise as I have worked on mariculture of Perna, Pinctada spp. since 2000. I possess specialist knowledge of their biology, aquaculture husbandry and hatchery propagation. My Ph.D. Thesis titled" INDCUED MATURATION, SPAWNING AND LARVAL SETTLEMENT IN GREEN MUSSEL PERNA VIRIDIS (LINNAEUS, 1758)" was a breakthrough in Indian mussel hatchery production. My publication on the larval rearing of mussels and pearl oysters (please see Nair and Appukuttan 2003 in my list of publications), for example, provides a summary of the key technical methods in the artificial propagation of this species, which are now drawn upon throughout the mussel culture industry worldwide.
In a useful technology transfer of hatchery protocol recently, I transferred the latest propagation techniques of rearing black-lip pearl oysters, Pinctada margaritifera, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) by stabilizing the pearl oyster spat production. This hatchery was used to produce other commercially important shellfish species as well. I have spawned and completed for the first time in the Pacific and the world the life cycles of ornamental Gastropods like the helmet shell Cassis sp., 5 fingered chank Lambis sp. and the White Cowry Ovula ovum. In addition I completed the life cycle in captivity of the Surf Red Fish Sea cucumber, Actinopyga mauritiana.
In an effort to diversify my skills, I had trained myself in finfish hatchery technology of Groupers and other ornamental fin and shell fish in Indonesia under a NACA Program. I have also extensive networking in the Pacific and South East Asia in Aquaculture, Fisheries and allied technological fields like feeds, seeds etc.
Another recent project was in the United States of America for the Maryland State Government. Here under a challenging temperate and very low saline environment, I designed, set up and successfully commissioned a research and commercial edible oyster hatchery (American Easter Oyster ; Crassostrea virginica), produced spat in the first attempt. My technology is still being used to successfully produce spat for the Southern Maryland Oyster Industry.
I recently completed a feasibility study for setting up a Giant Clam (Tridacna derasa; T. squamosa, T. maxima, T.gigas, Hippopus hippopus and others), Golden / White Lip Pearl Oyster (Pinctada maxima) and the Black Lip Pearl Oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) hatchery and farming system in the Republic of Palau.
