ACTIVITIES-II

Dr.Santha Varghese, joined the FSI in 1970 and had an extended career till 2009 in various capacities and made substantial contribution to the sustainable development of marine fisheries in India. Born and brought up in Kerala and graduated in Zoology from the University of Kerala. She had acquired her Masters degree by research and Doctoral degree from the university of Mumbai. She had represented India in the international forums like IOTC Working Party meetings and the Session meetings and workshop on depredation of long line catches in Seychelles, Tuna tagging workshop in Indonesia, fisheries conference in Oman, GIS seminar in London. She had also served in various Scientific and Technical Committees of the Institute and made significant contributions .
Dr.S.Varghese has published a number of Scientific and Technical papers, Reports and Bulletins and special publications. She is well experienced in all the marine fisheries activities including preparation of project reports and proposals.
Recognitions
Considering her outstanding and meritorious contribution as a woman Scientist, in marine fisheries, she was adjudged as the best Scientist by the Institute during 2009 and awarded the merit certificate. She was also conferred upon the Fellowship by the Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology , Bhuvaneswar being the best woman Scientist for her contribution in Tuna tagging in Lakshaweep and Andaman islands training the traditional fishermen of the Andaman islands in Pole and line fishing and preparation of masmeen from tunas.

IMAGES

PROJECTS

International and inter-institutional Projects
Tuna Tagging in Indian waters

For the first time in Indian waters tuna tagging activity was undertaken with the support of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) during 2005-2008. Had the opportunity to be the National Correspondent and the Coordinator of the two tagging projects, one in Lakshadweep group of islands and the second one in Andaman and Nicobar waters. The small scale tuna tagging projects undertaken from these two islands was part of the Ocean-wide tagging undertaken by the IOTC in the Western and Eastern Indian Ocean regions. India was highly benefitted from these two projects, especially the Scientists getting trained in this specialised activity by the international experts. The tagging activity enable in understanding the migration routes of the highly migratory tuna fishes especially yellowfin tunas , their growth, biological features like food and feeding habits, feeding and breeding grounds etc. In both the Projects the tagging was undertaken from the traditional Pole and line boats operated by the fishermen of Lakshadweep islands. These boats are operated for about 8hrs on daily basis. The tagging involves catching of live tunas, tag them using conventional dart tags ot electronic tags and release them back to the sea with in less than 30 seconds after noting the essential data mainly the length and weight of the fish. The recapture is reported by the fishermen when they capture the tagged tunas during the course of their fishing activity. The recapture is reported from with in the area of release to far away places like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychells, Thailand etc. Another important feature of pole and line fishing is the requirement of bait fish in good quantities for luring the tunas. Once the shoal of tunas is sighted, the fishermen throw the baitfish to sustain the shoal till maximum catches are hauled. In Lakshadweed islands the fishermen set out for bait fishing prior to proceeding to the fishing ground which is mainly done in the lagoons. Small bait fishes mainly spratteloids are caught and stored in the bait tanks of the boats. The operations commence in the early morning hours. In Andamans , in the absence of lagoons bait fishing was carried out in different areas of availability and store them in floating bait tanks one day prior to fishing.
For further details on the tuna tagging refer the report of tuna tagging by S..Varghese et.al(2008).

ACTIVITIES-I

Activities
As Fisheries Scientist, had the opportunity to be involved in all the marine fisheries related activities by active participation from programming the survey to the implementation stage. The survey strategies of the vessels are pre-programmed assigning targets for achievements in terms of fishing days, fishing effort, and fishing areas . The survey vessels are designed to undertake different fishing methods like demersal trawling, mid-water trawling, long lining squid jigging, purse-seining, monofilament and multifilament long lining, trap fishing etc The survey and research objectives include spatio-temporal distribution pattern of demersal resources, biological characteristics of important fin-fishes, hydrographic parameters such as salinity, temperature, depth, and sampling of benthic organisms through mud grab operation. Estimation of abundance indices of the fish species, preparation of species inventory, imparting training to fishermen in fishing techniques through demonstration. Guide the researchers in their research activities leading to post graduation and Phd degrees.

Specialised Activities
Well experienced in organising extension activities by organising workshops, seminars and open houses for the benefit of the fishermen by creating awareness among them the opportunities available for enhancing the fish catch, the various technologies and resources thereof as part of the socio-economic upliftment of the fishing community. The open houses mostly organised on board the fishing vessels are aimed at the students and the public to create awareness among them about the marine fishing activities.
The application of remote sensing technique in marine fisheries is another area where Indian fisheries has made significant progress The marine data collected through dedicated Ocean satellite, is analysed for short term fishery forecast which in turn is utilised by the fishermen.

HOMEPAGE

Dr.Santha Varghese, Fisheries Scientist

A Fisheries Scientist by profession, having a vast experience of over three and a half decades in one of the largest marine fishery Institutes, the , Fishery Survey of India (FSI), a nodal agency of the Government of India, engaged in the survey and assessment of the marine fishery resources of the Indian Excusive Economic Zone (IEEZ) encompassing an area of about 2.02 million sq.km. The FSI is directly linked with the growth and development of the marine fisheries of the Indian Seas. Established in the year 1946, the Institute functions under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture of the Govt. of India. The FSI has made significant contributions to the marine fishing industry like introduction of modern fishing vessels, fishing technology, fishing gears and fishing methods . The survey activities enables in locating rich fishing grounds for resources like crustaceans(shrimps and lobsters and crabs),cephalopods(squids, cuttlefishes)and fin-fishes all along the Indian coasts. The Institute operates a variety of fishing vessels, small, medium and large over the years for various survey related activities. The latest addition to the survey fleet is the monofilament long line vessels for the survey of oceanic tuna resources of the Indian high seas and the international waters of the Indian Ocean.