We Don’t Know 90% Of Ocean Life: Asiem Sanyal

Growing up in Nagpur and graduating from Loyola College, Chennai, Asiem Sanyal took a plunge into the area of his passion, did his masters in marine science from the University of Calcutta and a second master's in ecology, evolution and conservation from Imperial College, London. Alongside, he also mastered diving. Now appointed as Project Manager, Fauna and Flora International, Sao Tome and Principe, off the coast of western Africa near the Equator, Sanyal has worked around the world, on different islands. Till Covid struck the world, he was working as Conservation Science Senior Manager, Timor-Leste, in south-east Asia. In an interview with BW Education, Sanyal shares what inspired him to embark on this adventure-filled field and what it entails. Excerpts:

What inspired you to become a marine biologist?

I’ve always been interested in wildlife since I was a child. Fortunately, while I was growing up, there was abundant wildlife around my house. Nagpur is known as the tiger capital of the country, so there are quite a few national parks and nature reserves. 

And every summer I used to go to Mumbai which has beaches and the coastline. There was an endless fascination for me going to Mumbai and going to the coastline because I didn’t have that in Nagpur. I would take whatever time I could get to go and just explore along the beaches. We have what we call tidepools, which are like pools of water that get left over from high to low tide and there are so many life forms that you can find there. That’s what stoked my curiosity. And I’ve continued ever since.

What does the field entail? What are some of the interdisciplinary aspects?

Marine biology, as the name suggests, is the study of life under the oceans, from the point of view of human interactions with the environment.

The sea is not distinct from humans who live on the coastlines. I started by studying species diversity and ecosystems which are found under the oceans, but overtime I’ve also come to appreciate that there are a lot of coastal communities which rely on the oceans for their livelihood and survival, and I work very closely with coastal populations as well. 

But there are other factors as well. If you’re into marine work, you can be a marine physicist, a marine chemist or a marine geologist because there’s so much that goes on under the waves that we don’t know about. So there are people from different fields who are working together, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

What kind of environmental impact have you observed in your work?

Well, oceans really do support all life to an extent, and even if you’re far away, you still find that everything does find its origins or its roots in a sense, in the oceans. So, marine biology becomes very a very important field of study. We haven’t really understood close to 90 per cent of what actually goes on under the waters and lot of the life that’s living underwater and to that extent we don’t know how much dependent we are on those species for our survival.

In an age of climate change when things are changing rapidly and everything is hurtling towards a rather grim future, it becomes even more critical and crucial to be studying things that go on under the water and a great field to be in right now.

The seas and the oceans really are bearing the brunt of climate change. And the impact of climate crisis and things are happening more rapidly there than anywhere else on the planet.

With increasing climate change, with increasing ocean acidification, large portions of coral reefs which support a lot of the fish which in turn support fisherfolk in various countries around the world are getting bleached. Once they get bleached, the fish no longer live there, and so that has a direct impact on food security for the people who are living along the coast.

Going back a little bit, how did your education in India help support you in this dream of becoming a marine biologist? What kind of infrastructure exists within the country for this field?

When I started out, there weren’t a lot of infrastructures available. There were only a couple of institutes that were offering any semblance of wildlife-related work in India. So, I studied, I did my bachelors in Chennai and my bachelors in advanced zoology and biotechnology. And then I went to Calcutta University to do a course in marine science. At that time, it was one of the three places in the country offering that course so there was really limited scope. I felt the need to supplement my education by doing a course outside the country and I did a master's in ecology, evolution and conservation from Imperial College, London. I was lucky to get a scholarship from the InLacks foundation to do that. Now, of course, there are institutes here offering courses specifically in marine biology and marine conservation.

Skilling is also something that’s become really important. We need to have that exposure to actually what we are studying. How important do you think is that in your field of work? 

I would have really liked to have had more practical exposure while I was studying because unless and until you have a connection with your work and with your field of interest, you’re not likely to be invested in it. Go for courses that have field trips directly engaged with wildlife. 

What kind of training did you undertake?

I tried to supplement my learning with my own practical visits. I tried to also do specific internships in research institutions in the country which were related to my field of interest.

In Bangalore and Calcutta, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to intern with two scientific institutions which helped me a lot. Another skill that really helped me was diving. It brought me a lot closer to the marine environment and solidified my love for the oceans. But it continues to remain a rather expensive activity, so it’s not for everyone. 

As a scientist, how important is STEM education in school education and how do you think you have benefited from it? 

I absolutely agree that STEM education is so important, and I would have benefited from a more tailored approach to wildlife. India is very unique in that there are so many different kinds of habitats that are available in the country. Those habitats come with their own set of species, some of which are not found anywhere else on the planet.

But there is no course or content available at a school level which specifically pertains to biodiversity conservation. I think STEM ends up focusing on the more prominent fields like medicine and engineering. 

Who are some of your role models?

Somebody from India that I really looked up to while growing up was Salim Ali (India’s legendary ornithologist). He helped establish the Bombay Natural History Society, which is doing remarkable work in bird-related conservation in India. His Book of Indian Birds is a brilliant field guide which I used for a really long time whenever I would go for bird watching. And his autobiography The Fall of a Sparrow is also something that motivated me to start my own journey in conservation.

Outside India, the person that I really look up to is David Attenborough who has done a lot of documentaries on wildlife for the BBC for a really long time. I also admire Jane Goodall, who works with chimpanzees.

Your advice to young people who want to follow in your footsteps.

I would say listen to your heart. I have to be honest that it’s not going to be the easiest road. There are a lot of obstacles. Sometimes the obstacles start at home. Sometimes parents are not appreciative of this field. So, I would say follow your heart if you’re interested.

At a very early age just start engaging with the field by looking at documentaries. Once you get to the university level, explore.

A lot of internships tend to have a field component which really helps you find your path. Now there are also ocean-related training courses which are freely available online by premier institutions around the world. I would suggest people look out for that. We are currently in the midst of what we call the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. And so, there are courses which are specifically related to ecosystem restoration.  

Vasudha Mukherjee

BW Reporters The author works with BW Education