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.

Buddhi Maheshika Pathirana (Researcher)

Buddhi is a researcher in the field of marine science and an enthusiastic wildlife and aerial photographer. She has a special interest in marine algology, biology, ecology, microbiology, biotechnology, and environmental conservation. Buddhi has received training at the Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka in PCR applications and techniques. She is also a member of the Scientific and Technical Research Association (STRA), and the World Association for Scientific Research and Technical Innovation (WASRTI). 

Buddhi is working on the Sri Lanka Elasmobranch Project, based primarily at our field station where she helps manage our field station.

Sahan Thilakaratna (Researcher)

Sahan has a special interest in marine microbiology, algology, aquatic ecology, marine biotechnology, conservation biology, and fisheries management. He has been trained at the Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka in PCR and
molecular laboratory applications, and has been awarded the “Young Research Scholar 2017” by the Global Research and Development Services. He is also a lifetime member of the World Association for Scientific Research and Technical Innovation (WASRTI), and Eurasia, Scientific and Technical Research Association.

He is working on the Sri Lanka Elasmobranch Project, based primarily along the west coast.

Jordan Moss (Project Manager)

Jordan is a fisheries scientist joining the team to work on the project ‘What’s the catch? Understanding shark catches in large-scale, data limited artisanal fisheries.’, Aside from that he will help in developing indicators of population health for a range of sharks and ray species. It is his hope that through this project we can begin to improve the management of sharks and rays in the Indian Ocean (IO).

Previously working at CCMAR in Portugal, he is experienced in data-limited assessment methods and how they can be applied to elasmobranchs compared to teleost fish. A biologist at heart, he is also interested in the economic, social, and political aspects required to gain a holistic understanding of fisheries.

Helene Buchholzer (Visiting Scientist)

Helene Buchholzer is a visiting scientist specialising in socio-economic interactions in fisheries. Her studies and experience have driven her to understand the current social and economic issues in fisheries and to develop the tools to understand them and incorporate them into fisheries management. 

She is currently leading a project to assess the value chain of mobulid rays in small scale fisheries with the BRT Sri Lanka Elasmobranch Project. This work will help develop novel tools and techniques for improving ray management.

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.

Lashanthini Rajendram (Research Assistant)

Lashanthini is very keen to learn more about the ocean and its inhabitants and loves to be out in the field contributing toward research. She has a degree in Fisheries and Marine Sciences from the Ocean University of Sri Lanka and carried out an internship at the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA). During her studies she developed a keen interest in marine biology, ecology, and understood the dire need for applications of sustainable science to tackle emerging environmental challenges.

Lashanthini is currently working on the Sri Lanka Elasmobranch Project and is looking at expanding her skills and experiences to grow her career as an elasmobranch researcher and conservationist.