Focus of Research :
- Crustacean fisheries, population dynamics, stock assessment, and fisheries resource management
- Taxonomy, biology, molecular taxonomy, phylogenetics, and biodiversity
- Post-harvest technology: Fish processing, fish biochemistry, fishery microbiology and biotechnology
Background :
I completed my Bachelor's degree in Fisheries Science, followed by a Master's in Post-Harvest Technology (PHT) with a specialization in the microbiological quality of seafood products. I then pursued a Ph.D. in PHT, focusing on fishery microbiology and biotechnology. I joined the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) on April 16, 2003, at NAARM, Hyderabad. After completing management training, I was assigned to the Crustacean Fisheries Division (CFD) of CMFRI in 2003 at Veraval, where I worked on crustacean resources, including inshore shrimps, lobsters, and crabs. In 2005, I was transferred to CFD, Cochin, where I have since been engaged in research on deep-sea shrimp and lobster resources along the Kerala coast. My work has focused extensively on the integrative taxonomy of deep-sea shrimps and lobsters, utilizing both traditional and molecular tools to accurately characterize species. Currently, I am involved in research on crustacean biology, population dynamics, and developing management strategies for the sustainable exploitation of these valuable marine resources. As a research guide, I have mentored two Ph.D. students who successfully completed their degrees at Mangalore University. Currently, four students are pursuing their Ph.D. at CUSAT, and one student is registered under CIFE.
Education :
- PhD (Post Harvest Technology) in 2007 from Central institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin under CIFE, Mumbai
- M.F.Sc (Post Harvest Technology) in 2001 from Central institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin under CIFE, Mumbai)
- B.F.Sc in 1999 from College of Fisheries, Muthukur, Andhra Pradesh
Current Research Projects :
| No | Title |
| 1 | Science for Sustainability: Developing an Integrated Assessment Framework (IAF) to support management decisions for marine fisheries of Kerala and Lakshadweep |
| 2 | Exploring Non-Conventional Fisheries Resources: Assessing their Fishery, Stock Status and Potential for Commercial Exploitation |
| 3 | Consultancy project Title: Technical backstopping for strengthening sustainable harvest of shrimp and cephalopod trawl fishery of Kerala, Project Code: 1014578 |
Awards & Recognitions :
- Gold medal award for securing the top score in B.F.Sc. (1999) from Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh
- Jawarhal Nehru Award for outstanding work in Ph.D. in the stream of Fishery Biotechnology from Indian Council of Agricultural Research in 2009
- Prof. T. J. Pandian & A. J. Matty Award received in December, 2011 at Chennai in recognition for excellent work in aquaculture development through research. Indian Fisheries Forum, Asian Fisheries Society (Indian Branch) in 2011
- Shortlisted for Indian National Science Academy Young Scientist Award presentation in April, 2011, New Delhi, India.
- DST Young Scientist Project for Women Award from DST Fast Track Project by the Department of Science and Technology, SERB, India. Title of the project: Integrative Taxonomy of deep sea shrimp resources along the Southern Coast of India (SR/FT/LS- 73/2012), Project Code: DST 4001-438: 2013-2016
Best Poster Award at KSC
Sreelakshmy S and Rekha Devi Chakraborty. Conference Proceedings “Feeding habits of the deep-sea pandalid shrimp, Plesionika semilaevis, Spence Bate, 1888 from the southwest coast of India”, National Conference- 34 th Kerala Science Congress, 10-12th Feb 2022, Thiruvananthapuram, Pg 323-324
Publications:
- Gayathri, A P and Chakraborty, Rekha D* and Chakraborty, Kajal and Dhara, Subhajit and Dash, Gyanaranjan (2025) Seasonal fluctuations in fatty acid profile and biochemical traits of edible deep-water shrimp Heterocarpus woodmasoni. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 79. pp. 1-10. ISSN 2352 4855
- Aghana, M and Chakraborty, Rekha D* (2024) Insights into ovarian maturation and reproductive traits of the deep-water penaeid shrimp Metapenaeopsis andamanensis (Wood-Mason in Wood-Mason and Alcock, 1891) from southwestern India. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 209 (10434). pp. 1-10. ISSN 1879-0119
- Sreelakshmy, S and Chakraborty, Rekha D* (2023) Reproductive traits, dynamics of oogenesis and embryonic developments in the deep-sea shrimp Plesionika semilaevis from the southeastern Arabian sea. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 199. pp. 1-10. ISSN 1879-0119
- Kuberan, G and Chakraborty, Rekha D *and Purushothaman, P and Maheswarudu, G (2018) First record of deep-sea caridean shrimp Acanthephyra fimbriata Alcock & Anderson, 1894 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Acanthephyridae) from southwest coast of India. Zootaxa, 4531 (2). pp. 288-294.
- Purushothaman, P and Chakraborty, Rekha D* and Kuberan, G and Maheswarudu, G (2019) Integrative taxonomy of commercially important deep water penaeoid shrimpsfrom India. Journal of Genetics, 98 (12). pp. 1-13.
