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Dr. Ming-Tsung Chung
Dr. Ming-Tsung Chung
Assistant Professor, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University
Isotopic Windows into Fish Ecology: Migration, Trophic Dynamics, and Physiological Strategies
Isotopic Windows into Fish Ecology: Migration, Trophic Dynamics, and Physiological Strategies
Dr. Ming-Tsung Chung specializes in isotope ecology and physiological ecology, and is recognized as a leading young researcher in reconstructing the metabolic processes and habitat histories of marine organisms using innovative techniques such as stable isotope analysis and biomineral chemistry. Among his many accomplishments, his pioneering work on estimating field metabolic rates from the carbon stable isotope composition of hard parts—such as the otoliths and statoliths of fishes and cephalopods—stands out. This approach has significantly advanced our understanding of marine life histories and how organisms respond to environmental changes.
His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Ocean and Earth Science from the University of Southampton, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at Aarhus University and the University of Tokyo. During his time in Japan, he conducted innovative research on euryhaline fishes, including eels, in Amami-Oshima—the very location of this symposium—where he developed novel isotopic approaches to trace their migratory histories.
Dr. Chung is also actively engaged in international collaborations with researchers around the world. With his strong connections and cross-border mindset, he is truly a key figure to watch at this symposium, which aims to build networks and foster new joint research initiatives across Asia. We are honored to welcome Dr. Chung as an invited speaker to this symposium, where he will share his expertise on the ecological and physiological dynamics of marine organisms in the context of a changing ocean environment!
Dr. Seishi Hagihara
Dr. Seishi Hagihara
Associate Professor, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University
Wild Eel Chases – Journeys at the Edge of the Known
Wild Eel Chases – Journeys at the Edge of the Known
Dr. Seishi Hagihara serves as Director of the Nanae Freshwater Station. His research focuses on the physiological and ecological aspects of migration and reproduction in diadromous fishes, with particular emphasis on anguillid eels, salmonids, and sturgeons.
Dr. Hagihara has conducted extensive studies on the physiological and/or ecological mechanisms underlying habitat use, sex differentiation, sexual maturation, reproduction, and migration in diadromous species. In recent years, he has been particularly interested in the mechanisms that initiate spawning migration in eels, as well as the post-spawning mortality processes in semelparous fishes such as salmon and eels.
With a strong background in both field and laboratory research, Dr. Hagihara’s work makes a significant contribution to our understanding of fish migration and life history. He has published many articles in international scientific journals and is widely recognized as a leading expert in the study of silvering, sexual maturation, and downstream migration in tropical anguillid eels.
Dr. Mohammad Mukhlis Kamal
Dr. Mohammad Mukhlis Kamal
Senior Lecturer, Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, IPB University
Eels conservation efforts in Indonesia: progress and challenges
Eels conservation efforts in Indonesia: progress and challenges
Dr. Mohammad Mukhlis Kamal is a senior lecturer at the Department of Aquatic Resources Management, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Indonesia, where he has served since 1994. His academic and professional work focuses on ichthyology, fish larval biology, marine megafauna, and ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management (EBFM).
In recent years, Dr. Kamal has shown a growing interest in the ecology and management of tropical anguillid eels, particularly in the context of Indonesia’s diverse and increasingly significant eel resources. Recognizing the ecological and socioeconomic importance of eels in the region, he is actively engaged in research and collaborative efforts aimed at better understanding eel habitats, migration, and sustainable utilization.
Beyond his academic work, Dr. Kamal has been a key figure in promoting EAFM both within Indonesia and internationally. He has contributed to training and advisory missions in Southeast Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America, supporting sustainable and inclusive fisheries management initiatives at local and regional levels.
Dr. David H Secor
Dr. David H Secor
Professor, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
A stormy outlook on the migration ecology of eels and other coastal fishes
A stormy outlook on the migration ecology of eels and other coastal fishes
Dr. David Secor is an internationally recognized expert in the field of fish migration ecology and population connectivity. He has been a pioneer in developing and applying techniques such as hard-part microchemistry and animal biotelemetry to understand how migratory behaviors and life history diversity contribute to the resilience of fish populations—particularly in species such as striped bass, sturgeon, Atlantic mackerel, and bluefin tuna.
Among his many contributions, Dr. Secor has made especially significant advances in the study of partial migration, a central theme in his research. With his extensive expertise and unique perspective on this topic, he has more than earned the nickname “Mr. Partial Migration” among those of us who know him well. His work addresses key questions that are related to fisheries stewardship, threatened species, ecosystem management, and offshore wind development.
He has served on numerous advisory panels and has contributed key scientific knowledge to the management of transboundary fish stocks and the conservation of threatened species. He has also conducted numerous collaborative studies with researchers across Asia, further expanding the global relevance and applicability of his work.
His series of research accomplishments, along with his philosophy on fish migration, culminated in his book Migration Ecology of Marine Fishes (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015), which is considered a seminal work in the field, offering the first comprehensive treatment of the topic in over half a century. We are honored to welcome Dr. Secor as an invited speaker to this symposium, where he will share insights from his decades of research on the ecological and management implications of fish migration in a changing world!
Dr. Rajeev Raghavan
Dr. Rajeev Raghavan
Assistant Professor, Department of Fisheries Resource Management,
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies
Status of anguillid eel fisheries and conservation in South Asia
Status of anguillid eel fisheries and conservation in South Asia
Rajeev Raghavan is a fisheries scientist and aquatic conservation biologist working in the South Asian landscape. As an Assistant Professor at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, India, Rajeev undertakes teaching, research and outreach in fisheries science and related disciplines. He is particularly interested in areas such as taxonomy and systematics, molecular ecology and biogeography, sustainable fisheries, and international conservation policies.
Since 2012, Rajeev has been closely involved with the work of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and wears multiple hats including that of the South Asia Chair IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group (IUCN FFSG); IUCN Freshwater Fish Red List Authority Coordinator for the continents of Asia and Oceania, and an invited member on several of IUCN’s Interdisciplinary Specialist Groups and Task Forces. From 2013 to 2017, Rajeev also served on the IUCN Red List Committee, which guides and oversees the work and functioning of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. During his career, Rajeev has received prestigious fellowships from the Erasmus Mundus consortium (three times), Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and has generated grants from various international conservation agencies/organizations for his work on the fishes of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot.
In July 2023, Rajeev was awarded the ‘Fisheries Society of British Isles (FSBI) Medal 2023’, for his exceptional contributions to fish biology and fisheries science, becoming the first awardee from the Asian continent, till date. In 2024, he was awarded the SSHN Fellowship (Scientific High Level Visiting Fellowship) from the Embassy of France in India to undertake visiting research at the University of Montpellier. Rajeev’s global reputation and influence is further evidenced from his appointments as advisory board member of several leading international conservation organizations including the Shoal Conservation (UK), Fisheries Conservation Foundation (USA), Freshwater Life (USA) and the Mahseer Trust (UK); while his expertise and services as a consultant, have been used by major international development organizations including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
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