Kochi: Dr Prof B Madhusoodhana Kurup (71), founding Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and a prominent fisheries scientist, has died.

The funeral will be held at 4 pm on Sunday at his residence, Jayam House, in Nettoor.

Kurup conducted postdoctoral research at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He served as director and professor at the School of Industrial Fisheries at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). He also served as Vice-Chancellor of Shri Venkateshwara University in Uttar Pradesh.

His other key positions included serving as adviser to the Kerala Fisheries Minister, chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture under the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), chairman of the Research Advisory Committee of the ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture in Chennai, and a member of the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority.

He is survived by his wife, Dr Jayasree Madhu; son, Rakesh M Kurup; daughter, Dr Reshma Rajeev; daughter-in-law, Jayalakshmi S; and son-in-law, Dr R Rajeev.