Focus of Research :
- Ecosystem and biodiversity assessments
- Climate change impact on ecosystems
- Conservation mariculture
Background :
After completing Masters and Ph.D. in Marine Biology, I joined the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in 1997 with my first posting at the ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack. After a brief period of my service at ICAR-CRRI and after completing my Foundation Course at NAARM, Hyderabad, I joined the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam (Barapani), Meghalaya in September 1997. My research works in North-East mainly focused on integrated farming, breeding of major and minor carps in hill conditions, captive breeding of chocolate mahseer, fish production potential of upland reservoirs and ornamental fisheries. I joined the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi in January 2007 and subsequently served at its Mandapam Regional Centre during 2009 to 2012, Madras Regional Station during 2012 to 2014 and Calicut Regional Station from 2014 to 2023. Currently, I am serving as Principal Scientist and Head of the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI. My areas of research include taxonomy and culture of marine sponges, propagation of soft corals, conservation of seahorse, identifying EBSAs along the Indian coast and carbon sequestration potential of blue carbon ecosystems.
Education :
- Ph.D. (Marine Biology): 2001, Karnatak University, Dharwad (P.G. & Research Centre, Karwar)
- M.Sc. (Marine Biology): 1993, Karnatak University, Dharwad (P.G. & Research Centre, Karwar)
- B.Sc. (Zoology): 1991, R.K.M. Vivekananda College, University of Madras
Current Research Projects :
| No | Title | Funded by |
| 1 | Gelatinous zooplankton bloom and their ecological interplay in the Indian coastal waters | ICAR-CMFRI |
| 2 | Understanding the Essential Fish Habitats (EFHs) for sustainable management of coastal and marine ecosystem | ICAR-CMFRI |
| 3 | Science for Sustainability: Developing an Integrated Assessment Framework (IAF) to support management decisions for marine fisheries of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry | ICAR-CMFRI |
| 4 | Captive breeding and seed production of important finfishes, shellfishes, other invertebrates and seaweeds for sustainable mariculture, fisheries enhancement and conservation | ICAR-CMFRI |
| 5 | National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) | ICAR |
| 6 | Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) Programme | ICAR |
| 7 | All India Network Project (AINP) on Ornamental Fisheries | ICAR |
| 8 | CO2 assimilation off Cochin and Mandapam coasts | ISRO-NRSC |
Awards & Recognitions :
- Jawaharlal Nehru Meritorious Prize from the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, New Delhi for securing First Rank in the P.G. programme (1993).
- Junior Research Fellowship from the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India (1993-1996).
- Best Project Presentation Award during the Summer School on ‘Methods of assessment of aquatic ecosystem for fish health care’ held at ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore in 2002.
- Vasantrao Naik Award for Research Applications in Dryland Agriculture 2005 from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for outstanding contribution in the field of Alternate Land Use Models.
- Member, Sectional Committee on Biodiversity (SSD 20), Bureau of Indian Standards, Govt. of India.
- Member of the Indian Delegation for a visit to Scientific Organisations and Laboratories in Russia sponsored by the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India in September 2014.
- Member of the Indian delegation to attend a Regional Meeting focused on implementation of CITES for seahorses in Asia at Cebu, Philippines in March 2023.
- Member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission – Seahorse, Pipefish & Seadragon Specialist Group (SPS SG).
Publications:
- Vinod, K., Rani Mary George, Thomas, P.A. and Mary K. Manisseri (2012). Semperella megaloxea sp. nov. (Family: Pheronematidae): A new hexactinellid sponge from Andaman waters, India. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 59(1): 33-36.
- Vinod, K., Rani Mary George, Thomas, P.A., Mary K. Manissery and Shylaja, G. (2014). Diversity and distribution of shallow water sponges (Porifera) in the coastal waters from Enayam to Kollam, southwest coast of India. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 61(3): 52-57.
- Vinod, K., Anasukoya, A., Kunhikoya, V.A., Silpa, P.G. Asokan, P.K., Zacharia, P.U. and Joshi, K.K. (2018). Biomass and carbon stocks in mangrove stands of Kadalundi estuarine wetland, southwest coast of India. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 55(2): 89-99.
- Vinod, K., Asokan, P.K., Zacharia, P.U., Ansar, C.P., Gokul Vijayan, Anasu Koya, A., Kunhikoya, V.A. and Nikhiljith, M.K. (2019). Assessment of biomass and carbon stocks in mangroves of Thalassery estuarine wetland of Kerala, southwest coast of India. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 86: 210-218.
- Ranjith, L., Shukla, S.P., Vinod, K., Ramkumar, S., Amarnath, Mathan Babu, Rani Mary George, Chakraborty, S.K. and Purushothaman, C. S. (2020). Destruction of non-edible biota due to bottom trawling: The ecological and conservation issues in a global context. Ocean and Coastal Management, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman. 2020. 105420.
