Dr. R. Paul Raj was appointed as Member Secretary of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority by the Central Government and took charge on 1st May 2008. He holds a Master’s Degree in Marine Biology from Annamalai University and Ph.D. Degree in Marine Biology from the University of Madras. He has over 31 years of experience in the Agricultural Research Service of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ARS, 1976) and worked as Scientist S-1 at the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Senior Scientist (Associate Professor) at the Centre of Advanced Studies in Mariculture (CMFRI), Scientist-in-Charge of the Madras Research Centre of CMFRI, Principal Scientist and Head of the Divisions of Physiology, Nutrition and Pathology, and Fisheries

Resources Assessment, and Head of the Post-Graduate Programmes at CMFRI, Kochi. He also served as Member Secretary of the Research Advisory Committee and Chairman of the Consultancy Processing Cell at CMFRI, and Member in the Management Committees of CMFRI and CIBA.

He has also served as Member in the Academic Council of the Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, Member of the Board of Studies in Mariculture (CIFE), Board of Studies in Aquaculture ( University of Madras), Board of Studies in Fisheries ( Kerala Agricultural University), and Member of the Marine and Inland Fisheries Advisory Board ( Govt. of Tamil Nadu). He has substantial contributions to Aquaculture in the Country through his research, teaching and field-outreach programmes. He has guided 15 Ph.D. students (9 as Major Advisor and 6 as Co-Chairman). He has published more than 100 research and technical papers including a Hand Book on Aquaculture Feed published by the MPEDA during 1993 and Reprinted during 1995 and 1997. He has Directed Four Summer/Winter Schools at CMFRI in the Areas of Aquaculture Nutrition, Disease Management, and Marine Biotechnology. He was the Co-ordinator of the 8th Asian Fisheries Forum, the greatest Fisheries Event held in India at Kochi during November 2007. By his inspiring leadership he has mentored many of his colleagues and students to become highly successful in their endeavours.