Biography

The quest to know the unknown and to challenge the deep

I focus on conserving vulnerable marine species mainly from India.

Sourav Chattopadhyay is a PhD Research Fellow in Marine Biology at the Centre of Advanced Studies in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, India, specializing in elasmobranch (shark and ray) taxonomy, diversity, and conservation. His doctoral research has produced the first comprehensive baseline documentation of elasmobranch diversity across India’s east and west coasts, identifying 73 species in commercial catches.

His work is supported by the Sarisha Wild Life and Ecology and Wildlife Trust of Indi. He has authored 3 first-author publications, primarily in Springer journals including the Journal of Coastal Conservation and Environmental Biology of Fishes, covering topics ranging from spatial heterogeneity of elasmobranch communities to range extensions of threatened ray species across Indian coastal and riverine ecosystems.

Sourav has presented his research at international forums including Sharks International 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and will serve as a symposium chair at IMCC8 in Edinburgh in November 2026. He is currently leading a research investigating nursery habitats for Critically Endangered elasmobranch species in the Sundarbans, in collaboration with local conservation partners.

Academic Roots

Annamalai University

2018 – 2026

I focus on studies and conservation of vulnerable marine species especially eslasmobranch from India.

Professional Work

Institute Sarisha Wild Life and Ecology

2025 Elasmobranch Nursery habitat , Consevation and Diversity focusing on Nursery studies and estuarine areas.

Leading projects on Elasmo conservation in Sunderban and Bhitarkanika coastal areas in Bay of Bengal. Tamil Nadu Coastal areas in Indian Ocean

Sourav Chattopadhyay is a marine biologist focusing on conservation and research of fishes especially elasmobranch from India. His particular interest on Urogymnus rays, Wedge fishes and Saw fishes has led to the discovery of new river systems and estuarine areas from which these species were not previously observed

Journey

I started with a Bsc degree in Zoology from a local College in Chakdah, near Kolkata, then moved to Annamalai University to pursue my primary research interest in Marine Biology

Focus

Research and Conservation

Gallery

Snapshots from fieldworks around India.