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Mrs. Shobiya Gobiraj
Senior Lecturer Gr II
Shobiya Gobiraj is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Fisheries, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Her research interests include marine plastic and microplastic pollution, marine debris, coastal ecosystem monitoring, and aquatic environmental health. She also contributes to marine pollution research, environmental monitoring, coastal conservation, and sustainable marine and coastal management, with a particular focus on microplastic pollution and marine litter in Sri Lanka's northern coastal region.
Research Interests
Skills & Expertise
Academic Profile
M.Phil
M.Phil in Fisheries Science
University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka (2020–2022)
Exchange
Master's one-semester exchange study programme
UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway (2020–2021)
BSc
BSc Hons in Biological Science, Major in Fisheries Science
2013–2017
Activities
2026
Moderator, Popular Talk 1
Jaffna Science Association (JSA) Section A — 29 January 2026
2025
Facilitator, consultative workshop on EAFM Implementation for the Sea Cucumber Fishery in Northern Sri Lanka
University of Jaffna — 11 September 2025
2025
Resource person, capacity development workshop on fisheries extension; talk on "Plastic Pollution in Marine Fisheries: Eradicate and Educate"
Poonahary DS Office — 8 July 2025
2025
Reviewer, 29th Annual Technological Advances in Science, Medicine, and Engineering (TASME) Conference
University of Toronto (Scarborough), Canada — 5–6 July 2025
2025
Track coordinator, research paper presentations of Section A, 31st Annual Scientific Sessions
Jaffna Science Association — 29 May 2025
2025
Participant, Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) capacity development course
NARA — 20–23 May 2025
2025
Participant, consultative workshop for preparing an EAFM Plan for the Sea Cucumber Fishery in Northern Sri Lanka
University of Jaffna — 15 May 2025
2025
Review panel member, Mini Research Symposium in celebration of World Water Day 2025
In collaboration with NWSDB, JSA, University of Vavuniya and Rajarata University
2025
Editor, JSA Section A; compiled Yalin Thedal – 2025 (Volume 9)
A collection of 25 scientific essays by university academics and leading professionals
2021
Investigated the massive accumulation of freshwater plants on the northern coast
Northern Sri Lanka — October 2021
2017
Participated in analysing the red blooms at Ariyakulam
Ariyakulam, Sri Lanka
Admin Roles
2026–2027
Chairperson, Section A
Jaffna Science Association (JSA)
2025–2026
Principal Investigator, Silent Pollutants in the Shallows: A Study of Microplastics in Cultured Sea Cucumbers of the Jaffna Peninsula (URG/2025/SEIT)
University Research Grant 2025, University of Jaffna — Completed
2025–2026
Secretary, Section A
Jaffna Science Association (JSA)
2025–2026
Deputy Proctor
Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna
2025–Present
Member, Curriculum Development, Revision and Monitoring Committee (CDRMC)
Sub-committee of the Faculty Board of Science (from 6 December 2025)
2025–Present
Member, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee
Centre for Gender Equity and Equality, University of Jaffna (from 4 April 2025)
2024–2025
Editor, Section A
Jaffna Science Association (JSA)
2024
Member, Organizing Committee (Logistics), 3rd Vingnanam Research Conference (VRC 2024)
University of Jaffna
2023–Present
Member, Newsletter and Student Handbook Committee
Sub-committee of the Faculty Board of Science (current term from 1 September 2026)
2023–2026
Member, Web & IT Service Committee
Sub-committee of the Faculty Board of Science
2023–2026
Member, Science Faculty Research Committee
Sub-committee of the Faculty Board of Science
2023–2026
Academic Counsellor
Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna
2023–2025
Member, Resource Mobilization Committee
Centre for Gender Equity and Equality, University of Jaffna
2023–2025
Member, Technical Evaluation Committee (2023 and 2024; acting 2025)
Department of Fisheries
2023–2024
Senior Treasurer, Fisheries Science Society
University of Jaffna
Awards
2025
Training Programme on Solid Waste Management
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, Hyderabad, India — 17–30 September 2025
2023
Best Presenter Award
Annual Research Sessions 2023, Faculty of Science, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (October 2023)
2020
M.Phil One-Semester Mobility Training Fellowship
UiT The Arctic University of Norway, under the NORPART Project
—
Partial Financial Support for M.Phil Programme
NOR-LANKA BLUE project (DIKU grant NORPART 2018/10045), UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø
2018
India–Sri Lanka Joint Workshop on Development and Exchange of Knowledge on Robotics and Automation Applied to Fisheries and Aquaculture
Sona College of Technology, Salem, India
2015
University Prize for the Best Performance in the Special Degree Examination in Science
2013
University Prize for the Best Performance in Biological Science
General Degree Examination in Science, Level 2G
2012–2013
Handy Perinpanayagam Memorial Prize for the Best Performance
General Degree Examination in Science, Level 1G & Level 2G
2012
Sabalingam Memorial Prize for the Best Performance
General Degree Examination in Science, Level 1G
2012
University Prize for the Best Performance in Biological Science
General Degree Examination in Science, Level 1G
Membership
Life Member
Young Scientist Forum
Life Member
Jaffna Science Association
Life Member
Field Work Center
Publications (4)
2026
Entrapped in debris: a preliminary assessment of the composition of anthropogenic marine debris on selected mangrove habitats of the Jaffna peninsula, Sri Lanka
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 198: 784 — Peiris, R.D., Gobiraj, S. — DOI: 10.1007/s10661-026-15638-x
2024
Initial examination of marine microplastics along Jaffna Peninsula's coastal stretch in the Palk Strait, northern Sri Lanka
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(56): 65022–65033 — Gobiraj, S., Kuganathan, S., Grøsvik, B.E., Amarathunga, A.A.D. — DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-35530-w
2024
Recreational water quality status of Charty Beach, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Advances in Technology, 3(2): 124–134 — Usgoda, M.S., Gobiraj, S., Sivashanthini, K. — DOI: 10.31357/ait.v3i2.7338
2022
Physico-chemical properties as a tool for monitoring marine water quality in selected coastal beaches of Northern Sri Lanka
Vavuniya Journal of Science, 1(1): 16–25 — Gobiraj, S., Kuganathan, S., Grøsvik, B.E. — DOI: 10.4038/vjs.v1i1.3
Teaching
Course
Principles of Aquatic Ecology and Fish Behaviour
Department of Fisheries, University of Jaffna
Course
Fish Harvest Technology
Department of Fisheries, University of Jaffna
Course
Introductory Aquaculture
Department of Fisheries, University of Jaffna
Course
Fisheries Practical III and IV
Department of Fisheries, University of Jaffna
Supervision
Undergraduate supervision
10 BSc Hons research projects supervised (2021–2025)