Prof. Md. Yeamin Hossain
University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh
I did my undergraduate studies in Fisheries from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), one of the finest institutes for agricultural studies in South Asia. I was introduced to the fascinating world of aquaculture during undergraduate and graduate studies at BAU. My masters’ project work was focused on iso-nutrient-based aquaculture-production systems for organic fertilizers. The general objectives were to reduce the dependency on inorganic fertilizers and external resources, and to increase nutrient and energy utilization, thereby simultaneously improving aquaculture sustainability and accessibility for poor farmers. Along with my colleagues, I have developed an organic fertilizers-based polyculture technology by exploring fish production under different stocking densities, ratios, and species combinations based on pond ecology. The work contributed to a number of journal publications (Journal of Aquaculture in the Tropics 18(1): 1-12, 2003; Bangladesh Journal of Fisheries Research 8(1):35-44, 2004; South Pacific Studies 26(2):101-110, 2006). After graduation from BAU, I started my career with Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh Government as Fisheries Officer. In those four years I had firsthand experience on the real world challenges in the domain which significantly shaped future research.
In order to enhance my knowledge and skill, I decided to pursue a research degree. So, I moved to Japan for higher studies in 2004. I was the recipient of prestigious Japanese Government scholarship known as Monbukagakusho: MEXT. During my graduation (M.S. 2007) and Ph.D. (2010) in the Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Japan, I worked on “Fisheries biology of the southern rough shrimp Trachysalambria curvirostris (Penaeidae) in Kagoshima Bay, southern Japan". I investigated the features of fisheries biology, ecology and contributed significantly to the spatiotemporal distribution of shallow water penaeid shrimp in a semi-enclosed deep-water bay. This research was very useful for the sustainable fisheries management of the Pacific regions. My Ph.D. work contributed to a number of reputed conference and journal publications including two papers in Journal of Crustacean Biology.
Due to my outstanding performance in research, I was awarded with the JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship by the Japanese Government, which is the most competitive award in postdoctoral level. I worked at the Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Japan on the "Ecosystem-based sustainable conservation and management of Kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus". I developed a framework for ecosystem-based, sustainable management of M. japonicus in the Yatsushiro Sea. During my postdoctoral research, I recognized the limitations of fisheries management at the population level and established a sustainable management model based on the integration of population-level and ecosystem- based approaches. From this post- doctoral research, two papers have been presented in the summer meeting of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Science during September 2012.
After completing my postdoctoral studies, I have joined the Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh where I have been teaching as well as carrying out research on basic fisheries biology, ecology, management and conservation policy implications of fish especially small- and large indigenous fish species with consideration of emerging climate changes. I am also collaborating in various projects with researchers from several countries including Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Spain, and USA. I have been very active in research and published altogether 200+ journal papers so far in reputed peer- reviewed international journals. I have been extensively studying the environmental factors, reproduction, spawning season, spawning ground, growth modelling, recruitment, mortality, yield and biomass per recruit of fish and shrimp species in different regions of the world.
My innovative approach of calculating the size at first sexual maturity of fish in order to find out the minimum permissible catch size and mesh size of fishing gear in order to conserve fish species, enhance fish food production, increase catch for providing employment opportunity for poor fishermen, accelerate export earnings from fish and shellfish and finally poverty eradication have already gained recognition in Bangladesh and nearby countries. The findings were published through several peer- reviewed international journals.
I have been working as a Professor of the Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh since October 01, 2020 (Lecturer since February 13, 2006 to February 12, 2009; Assistant Professor since February 13, 2009 to March 30, 2015; Associate Professor since March 31, 2014 to September 30, 2020). I have been working on basic fisheries biology, ecology, management and conservation policy implications of fish especially threatened indigenous small- and large-species and freshwater prawns. I have extensively studied the environmental factors, reproduction, spawning season, spawning ground, growth modeling, recruitment, mortality, yield and biomass per recruit of fish and shrimp species in different regions of the world.
I have secured and managed a total number of 20 Research Grants/Projects from different government /agencies including TWAS (The World Academy of Science) Research Grants Programme funded by UNESCO, IFAD & IDA through Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science & Technology of Bangladesh Government for the studies of Ecosystem-based sustainable management and conservation of Small-indigenous fish species (SIFS) and endangered fish species in the Rivers floodplains and Oxbow lake fishes as well as Marine fishes with consideration of emerging climate changes for conservation and management policy implications in Bangladesh. One of our researches has been selected for the Best Poster Award by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in the conference on the 50th Anniversary of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM during December 22, 2014 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Another one of our research papers has been awarded for the BEST RESEARCH PRESENTATION AWARD 2016 by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum on 30/10/2016. Recently, one research paper has been awarded International Best Presentation Award 2017 by the ISCA (International Science Community Association) in the 7th international science congress during 8-9 December, 2017 in Bhutan.
I have already published more than 210+ scientific papers through peer-reviewed international Journals within a short period (2006 to 2022). Most of the research works are involved with the conservation of aquatic resources and environments. I have a total of 4475 citations with an h-index of 36 and i10- index of 127 (Since 2023; Google Scholar). I am serving as an Editor/ Editorial board member of several peer-reviewed national and international Journals in the Field of Fisheries. I am also reviewer of several international journals (Fish Biology, Fisheries Research, International Aquatic Research, Journal of Scientific Research, Journal of Threatened Taxa, Revista de Biologia Tropical, Sains Malaysiana, Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Turkish Journal of Zoology, Journal of Applied Ichthyology, Journal of Crustacean Biology, Journal of Environment Biology, Journal of Scientific Research, Journal of Fish Biology, Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, Lakes & Reservoir: Research and Management, Limnology, Zoology and Ecology, Marine and Freshwater Research, Aquaculture Reports, Aquaculture Research