The biggest event in lobster research in India is nearing. Just to remind the lobster fraternity, the deadlines for early bird registration for The International Conference on “Recent Advances in Lobster Biology, Aquaculture and Management” (RALBAM 2010) is 31 October 2009 and that of submission of abstracts (15 November 2009). Please do not hesitate to contact RALBAM secretariat (ralbam@niot.res.in or vijay@niot.res.in) if you encounter any problem in registration, submission of abstract or in booking accommodation. NIOT Corporate rates are available for three hotels (Taj group, GRT Grand days and Savera) given in the website (ralbam@niot.res.in). Please see the details in the website. Full papers have to be submitted at the time of the conference and please visit the MBAI website (www.mbai.org.in) to see instructions for the preparation of the manuscript. Copies of few papers from recent issue of the journal are given in the website for reference. We are happy to announce that Professor Bruce Phillips has consented to be one of the editors for the publication of proceedings. Climate change impact is added as one of the themes and Dr. Stewart Frusher of Tasmania Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, Hobart, Australia will be chairing the session.

All registered participants and their spouses would be taken for a local sight seeing trip and post conference tours (Please see the website for details) will be arranged if the required minimum number of people are interested.

Visit to Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve: The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (700 km south of Chennai) in the Southeast coast of India is the first Marine Protected Area in Southeast Asia. Krusadi Island, one of the 21 uninhabited islands in the reserve is often described as a “Biologists paradise” due to its rich species diversity. It is the only place in the world where the prochordate, Belanoglossus is found. This Reserve is a natural habitat for all the six species of spiny lobsters and the slipper lobster, Thenus orientalis that are commercially exploited in India. The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Trust, which manages the Reserve, invites lobster experts attending RALBAM 2010 at Chennai to visit the Reserve and offer their valuable suggestion to manage the lobster fishery in the Reserve. Contact the conference secretariat (ralbam@niot.res.in) for further details. This visit can be combined with the 3-4 day post conference temple tours.

The state of Tamil Nadu is characterized by more than 30000 temples that gives it the  title of ''A Land of Temples''. These temples are built by various dynasties and bear a superficial resemblance to each other. They share the same physical features as the imposing tower or the ''gopuram'' over the entrance, and the ''vimanam'' which is the tower over the sanctum and the spacious halls and corridors. However, every temple has its own architectural beauty, particular to the presiding deity. The temple was not just a place for worship; it was a place for social gathering, for education, for celebration – not just of the king’s victories in battles but also of local functions and ceremonies such as marriages.

Contact Organizing Secretaries
Dr. M. Vijaykumaran / Dr. R. Kirubagaran,
Ocean Science and Technology for Islands (OSTI), NIOT, Pallikaranai, Chennai – 600100, India.
Ph: +91 44 66783418; 66783419,
FAX: +91 44 66783430; 22460645, 
Mobile : +91 9444088164 (Vijayakumaran) ;
Email: ralbam@niot.res.in; vijay@niot.res.in