Dr. Subbanna Ayyappan, a prominent figure in Indian aquaculture and agricultural research, passed away on May 10, 2025. His body was recovered from the Cauvery River at Srirangapatna, near Mysuru, two days after he was reported missing. He was 69 years old and had been residing in Mysuru with his wife. According to police, his two-wheeler was found abandoned near the riverbank. Authorities have stated that further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of death.
He was born on December 10, 1955, in Karnataka. Dr. Ayyappan had a distinguished career that spanned several decades in fisheries science and agricultural administration.
He held several key positions during his tenure with the Government of India, including Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), from January 2010 to February 2016. Dr. Ayyappan also served as the Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Manipur, and was notably the first non-crop scientist to lead ICAR.
Additionally, Dr. Ayyappan was the founder Chief Executive of the National Fisheries Development Board and served as Chairman of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
Dr. Ayyappan began his career in 1978 as a scientist at the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore. He later served as Director of the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar, and subsequently as Director of the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai.
In 2002, he joined the ICAR headquarters as Deputy Director General (Fisheries), a position he held for almost eight years before taking up the role of Secretary, DARE, and Director-General, ICAR in January 2010.
He held a master’s degree in Fish Production and Management from the College of Fisheries, Mangalore, and a Ph.D. from Bangalore University. Throughout his career, Dr. Ayyappan published numerous research papers in fisheries, limnology, and aquatic microbiology and contributed to major national programs focused on aquaculture development.
In recognition of his significant contributions, Dr. Ayyappan was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2022. He also received numerous other prestigious awards, including the Zahoor Qasim Gold Medal, Special ICAR Award, Dr. V.G. Jhingran Gold Medal, and was named among the Asian Scientist 100 in 2023.
Dr. Ayyappan's work in India's fisheries and aquaculture sectors has been widely acknowledged, and he played a pivotal role in shaping national policies and advancing research in the field.
