Dr. Aritra Bera

Dr. Aritra Bera is a scientist working on breeding and aquaculture of brackishwater finfishes in the Finfish Culture Division of ICAR-CIBA, Chennai. He earned his PhD in Aquaculture from ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai. He qualified Agricultural Research Service and joined CIBA during 2014. As a sub-project leader of Milkfish breeding program, he with his team contributed towards breakthrough in induced maturation and hatchery seed production of Milkfish (Chanos chanos) for the first time in India during June 2015. As further refinement of the technology, team also achieved eight months extended breeding, mass scale seed production and scientific farming of milkfish during 2016-2021. His other associated research work includes captive seed production of grey mullet, red snapper and ornamental brackishwater fishes. Recent research interest focused on application of assisted reproductive techniques in finfish breeding, improved larval rearing system of marine finfishes, stress-induced reproductive physiology in the context of climate change and innovative aquaculture models including RAS.

• Captive maturation, induced breeding of brackishwater finfishes
• Larval physiology and innovative larval rearing protocols
• Stress physiology and endocrine disruption
• Sustainable aquaculture models

• Received EICA fellowship to attend international training courses on ‘Fish Culture Development’ at Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture (EICA) & World Fish at Arab Republic of Egypt during 01.10.18 to 15.12.18.
• Received NIBB international internship for carrying out advanced research in fish germline stem cell at Laboratory of Molecular Genetics for Reproduction in National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB), Okazaki, Japan, during 2012 in the topic ‘Effect of hypoxia on germline stem cells and sex differentiation in medaka (Oryzias latipes)
• Award for best publication of the year (Highest Impact factor): ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai. 2015.
• Best Paper Presentation Award to Bera et. al. for oral presentation on “Effect of algae based enriched rotifers feeding on the differential growth, and survival of milkfish (Chanos chanos) during hatchery rearing” in National Conference on Recent Advances In Aquaculture (NCRAA 2020), Sir Theagaraya College, Chennai during 6-7 February, 2020.
• Team Member for Best Poster Award: Krishna Sukumaran, Dani Thomas, Rekha M. U., Aritra Bera et al., (2019). Growth and reproductive parameters of two geographical groups of grey mullet Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 in captivity during BRAQCON: (CIBA)- (SCAFi), January 23-25, 2019.
• Awarded ICAR, Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for post -graduation study in Aquaculture during 2008-2010.
• Outstanding performance (B.F.Sc) award and medal of recognition by teachers association (WBUAFS).
• 1^st Class First. (Gold Medallist) in Bachelor Degree (B.F.Sc) in the year 2008.
• Certificate of Achievement from Alltech for the paper on ‘Alternatives to antibiotic growth promotants in aquaculture’ during Alltech’s Yong Animal Scientist Award, USA, 2008.

• Bera, A., Kailasam, M., Mandal, B., Padiyar, A., Ambasankar, K., Sukumaran, K., Makesh, M., Kumararaja, P., Subburaj, R., Thiagarajan, G. and Vijayan, K.K., 2021. Maturity induction and extended spawning kinetics of milkfish (Chanos chanos) administered with combined GnRHa and 17α-methyl testosterone pellet at varied frequencies. Aquaculture, p.736993.
• Bera, A., Kailasam, M., Mandal, B., Sukumaran, K., Makesh, M., Hussain, T., Sivaramakrishnan, T., Subburaj, R., Thiagarajan, G. and Vijayan, K.K., (2019). Effect of tank colour on foraging capacity, growth and survival of milkfish (Chanos chanos) larvae. Aquaculture, 512, p.734347.
• Sukumaran, K., Thomas, D., Rekha, M.U., Angel, J.R.J., Bera, A., Mandal, B., Subburaj, R., Thiagarajan, G., Makesh, M., Ambasankar, K. and Krishnakumar, K., (2021). Reproductive maturation and induced breeding of two geographical groups of grey mullet, Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758. Aquaculture, 536, p.736423.
• Mandal, B., Kailasam, M., Bera, A., Sukumaran, K., Hussain, T., Biswas, G. and Vijayan, K.K., (2021). Standardization of oocyte size during artificial fertilization and optimization of stocking density during indoor larval and outdoor nursery rearing of captive spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) for a viable juvenile production system. Aquaculture, 534, p.736262.
• Sawant PB, Bera A*, Dasgupta S, Sawant BT, Chadha NK, Pal AK. (2014). p53 Dependent Apoptotic Cell Death Induces Embryonic Malformation in Carassius auratus under Chronic Hypoxia. PLoS ONE 9(7): e102650. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102650 * is corresponding author

• Bera, A., Kailasam, M., Mandal, B., Padiyar, A., Ambasankar, K., Sukumaran, K., Makesh, M., Kumararaja, P., Subburaj, R., Thiagarajan, G. and Vijayan, K.K., 2021. Maturity induction and extended spawning kinetics of milkfish (Chanos chanos) administered with combined GnRHa and 17α-methyl testosterone pellet at varied frequencies. Aquaculture, p.736993.
• Bera, A., Kailasam, M., Mandal, B., Sukumaran, K., Makesh, M., Hussain, T., Sivaramakrishnan, T., Subburaj, R., Thiagarajan, G. and Vijayan, K.K., (2019). Effect of tank colour on foraging capacity, growth and survival of milkfish (Chanos chanos) larvae. Aquaculture, 512, p.734347.
• Sukumaran, K., Thomas, D., Rekha, M.U., Angel, J.R.J., Bera, A., Mandal, B., Subburaj, R., Thiagarajan, G., Makesh, M., Ambasankar, K. and Krishnakumar, K., (2021). Reproductive maturation and induced breeding of two geographical groups of grey mullet, Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758. Aquaculture, 536, p.736423.