Daniel Fernando (Co-Founder and Director)

Daniel is currently working towards a PhD at Linnaeus University studying the biology and ecology of manta and mobula rays in the Indian Ocean.

At Blue Resources Trust he helps obtain funds, oversee project operations, leads elasmobranch research, and develops and implements national and international policy to better manage fisheries. He was an Adviser to the Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife of Sri Lanka (2015-2018) and still helps represent the Government at international conventions such as CITES and CMS.  

His work has been highlighted in international documentaries broadcast on ITV (UK) and Al Jazeera English. Daniel is also a member of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group and is a Party-appointed scientific councillor to the CMS Scientific Council.

Nishan Perera (Co-Founder and Director)

Nishan is a marine biologist and underwater photographer with an interest in coral reef ecology, fisheries and marine protected area management. He has previously worked with the IUCN and was a member of Project Seahorse.

His current research includes field studies on seahorses, coral reefs and sustainable small-scale fisheries. He is the author of Coral Reefs of Sri Lanka, and has contributed articles and images to the Sri Lankan Airlines magazine Serendib, Explore Sri Lanka, Life Times Magazine, African Diver, Sport Diving Australia and Magazyn Nurkowanie Poland.

Susantha Udagedera (Director)

Susantha has a particular interest in seagrasses, climate change adaptation, and species based ecological studies; all of which provide vital information for the development of national conservation policy.

His childhood ambition was to explore nature in a scientific manner to determine how best to sustainably benefit humanity. This led him to his Bachelor in Environment Conservation Management at the University of Kelaniya, followed by a Master of Environment Management at the University of Colombo.

He has a strong working relationship with Project Seagrass and the World Seagrass Association. Susantha is also a selected expert to evaluate Sri Lankan seagrass for the National Red List and is a member of the IUCN SSC Seagrass Specialist Group.

Akshay Tanna (Director of Operations)

Akshay is a SCUBA instructor, sailing instructor and skipper. He has been diving and cruising in South Asia for over a decade and is passionate about the conservation of the marine environment.

Akshay manages field operations, helps coordinate flagship projects, and conducts data analyses for our projects. He is also the skipper of our research boat, safety officer for diving operations, and helps conduct our underwater training programs. A keen mechanic, he also oversees Blue Resources Trust's technical operations including developing underwater sensors and equipment servicing.

Gayashan Arachchige (Senior Scientist)

Gayashan has a background in marine biology and ecology. He is passionate about coral reef ecology and is currently working on our coral reef project in order to contribute to effective marine resource management in Sri Lanka.

Gayashan has received training on echinoid systematics at the Natural History Museum in Vienna, which led him to published a monograph on the taxonomy and distribution of irregular echinoids from Sri Lanka. In addition to being a scuba diver, his true passion in life is studying echinoids.

Gobiraj (Researcher)

Gobiraj is a researcher in the fisheries science field with a passion in marine biology, ecology, microbiology, environmental conservation, and fishery management. He has received training at the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) of Sri Lanka in post-harvest analysis (chemical and micro-biological analysis), aquaculture and aquarium techniques, oceanography and marine sciences, and PCR applications and techniques.

Gobi is working on the Sri Lanka Elasmobranch Project, based primarily in Jaffna, focusing on field data collection and analysis. His ambition is conserve aquatic resources through scientific and socio-economic studies and to increase awareness among the local fisher communities.

Roshan Ahammed M.Riyath ()

Roshan is native to Kinniya, an area covered by marine and brackish water, where he engages with the community in social work. He studied at the University College of Anuradhapura at the Department of Aquaculture & Aquatic Resources Management and gained experience at the National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWS & DB), The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka (NAQDA) as well as working on mariculture at Oceanpick.

He has researched and presented work on the extraction and characterization of chitosan from the shells of mud clams (Geloina coaxans), cockles (Gafrarium tumidum), and freshwater mussels (Lamellidans sp.). Currently, Roshan is working on fisheries surveys, interviewing fishers, and implementing a GPS study.