Dr R. Muraliraja is an Associate Professor (Research) at VISTAS, Chennai, with expertise in mechanical engineering, surface coatings, materials durability, corrosion protection and manufacturing optimisation. His research on protective coatings for marine-grade steel and advanced engineering materials provides a complementary technical perspective for addressing marine pollution and promoting sustainable fishing practices. Within the project, he can contribute to identifying engineering approaches for improving fishing-equipment durability, reducing premature material disposal, supporting the technical development of community-monitoring devices and delivering capacity-building sessions on sustainable equipment use and waste prevention.