Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Personal Information
Publications
Expertise
Link
Affiliations
Languages
References
Timeline
Generic

Gulam M. Hussain

Rouse Hill,NSW

Summary

Globally recognized aquaculture and fisheries scientist with over 40 years of experience in technology development and dissemination in Bangladesh and internationally. Former Director General of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute and Asia Regional Coordinator for USAID's Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish, leading advancements in aquaculture research and blue economy initiatives. Authored over 200 scientific and technical papers in both international and domestic journals, contributing significantly to the field.

Overview

48
48
years of professional experience

Work History

Chief Aquaculture Adviser

EON Aquaculture Limited, Eon Group of Industries
11.2015 - Current
  • Company Overview: Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Develop policy and supervise relevant technical and scientific management for best aquaculture farming in the inland and coastal areas.
  • Develop policy and tools for institutional support & capacity building to Aquaculture and Marine Fisheries produce industries.
  • Improve quality brood stock and seed production of carps and GIFT strain of tilapia.
  • Through establishment of Tilapia Breeding Nucleus (TBN) with the improved GIFT germplasm received as 8 cohorts descended from 56 families (Jitra GIFT strains, Malaysia) from WorldFish, Bangladesh; designing, constructing and implementing modern tilapia hatchery systems and management both for improved germplasm production and large scale commercial monosex all male seed production.
  • Subsequently, similar systems will be developed under my direct supervision for carps, snakehead and other freshwater and coastal aquaculture species viz. Seabass, tiger shrimp and mud crabs etc.
  • Dhaka, Bangladesh

Asia Region Coordinator

Fish Innovation Lab
07.2020 - 01.2025
  • Company Overview: Mississippi State University - Mississippi, USA
  • Responsible for coordinating, monitoring and technical supervisor of FIL granted all aquaculture and Fisheries research projects in Bangladesh and Cambodia
  • Ensure projects goals are met and all the activities are assessed for continuous quality improvement
  • Organize all platform meetings and other aquaculture/fisheries research related workshops and seminars in Bangladesh and Cambodia
  • Mississippi State University - Mississippi, USA

Bangladesh Country Coordinator

Fish Innovation Lab
03.2019 - 06.2020
  • Company Overview: Mississippi State University - Mississippi, USA
  • Responsible for conducting all aspects of aquaculture projects priorities in Bangladesh
  • Assist with the identification of research priorities as well as responsible for coordination of implementation of all aquaculture research projects.
  • Ensure at projects goals are met and all the activities are assessed for continuous quality improvement
  • Organize all platform meetings and other aquaculture related workshops and seminars in Bangladesh
  • Mississippi State University - Mississippi, USA

Fisheries Expert

Institute of Water Modelling (IWM)
05.2017 - 05.2020
  • Company Overview: Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Responsible to assist mainly by appraisal of project worthiness in terms of technical feasibility, social acceptability and economic viability.
  • Compile and analyze necessary information related to freshwater fish reproduction and culture, natural spawning of fish such as spawning time, river condition, weather condition, water quality, habitat of brood fish etc. concerning the river ecosystem in the study area.
  • Assess vulnerabilities of selected wetlands for fisheries resources and suggest remedies, mitigation program and any other step to be taken up for conservation of fisheries resources.
  • Propose scopes for the future development of fisheries resources for selected wetlands.
  • Suggest community-based fisheries management for the selected wetlands.
  • Contribution to Inception Report, Interim Report, Progress Report, Draft Final Report and Final Report.
  • Attend the meeting as and when required.
  • Dhaka, Bangladesh

Key Expert-Fisheries and Aquaculture

AECOM International Development Europe
08.2016 - 07.2018
  • Company Overview: Madrid, Spain
  • During the project implementation period, the expert mission worked hard to implement successfully the goal of the program in contributing to the formulation of a national vision and governance framework in the field of the blue economy, and to its implementation in a broader partnership including government, private sector, academia, and other stakeholders.
  • During the project period Blue Economy related all ministries, departments including Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute, Technical Universities were contacted and visited.
  • The mission developed a Blue Economy policy document having 13 chapters and submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Govt. of Bangladesh; meanwhile, all those major chapters have already been published as technical papers in a peer-reviewed internal journal titled 'Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics' from USA in 2019.
  • The expert mission also developed policy guidelines for Fisheries and Marine Aquaculture in Bangladesh.
  • At least 7 scientific papers have already been published in a number of international and national journals, where one of the major emphases was given in most those papers on coastal and marine fisheries resources management, marine aquaculture and marine fisheries development under the context of blue economy in Bangladesh.
  • During last two years, at least eight thematic regional workshops have been organized with the gathering of academics, researchers and relevant stakeholders in Khulna, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar in the field of blue economy opportunities, coastal and marine tourism, marine fisheries and aquaculture, ICZM, MSP, marine and coastal ecosystem services.
  • Moreover, presentations on blue economy opportunities and constraints in Bangladesh were made at least in two international workshops viz. Second International Blue Economy Dialogue in Dhaka on 22 - 23 November, 2017, Dhaka and International Maritime Order in the Indian Ocean Conference, 30 April - 01 May, 2018, Melbourne.
  • Madrid, Spain

Fish Genetic Specialist

WorldFish, Bangladesh and South Asia Office
01.2013 - 12.2016
  • Company Overview: Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Provided institutional capacity building & policy support to bring innovation for food security, nutrition and health and deliver policy support to facilitate income generation activities in the areas of fisheries & aquaculture.
  • Carry out the research activities related to genetic stock improvement of carp species and establishment of Tilapia Breeding Nucleus (TBN) and Tilapia Satellite Hatcheries (TSH) in coastal region for high quality brood stock development for quality seed production for aquaculture.
  • Under AIN project, genetic stock improvement programs as part of Genetic Flagship program of WorldFish has been initiated for rohu and catla as the two most important priority species for polyculture system to promote aquaculture in Bangladesh.
  • Since 2014, Rohu Genetic Improvement Program (ie. RGIP) started and developed 210 families of base population using three riverine strains (ie. from Halda, Padma and Jamuna rivers) and F1 improved generation will be produced during this breeding season in 2016.
  • Similarly, Carla Genetic Improvement Program (ie. CGIP) was initiated since 2015 and base population will be produced during this breeding season in 2016.
  • It is expected that at each generation there will be averagely 10% increase of growth rate and after three generations of genetic selection, both rohu and catla will be on an average 30% superior in growth rate than that of the founder stocks.
  • Under AIN project, my involvement and leadership also exerted for establishment of 9 Tilapia Breeding Nucleus (ie.TBNs) in Jessore, Narail, Khulna, Mymensingh and Barisal regions in Bangladesh.
  • These TBNs are presently supporting supply of >3.0 million superior brood stock for quality seed production of improved GIFT strain at least in 100 tilapia multiplier hatcheries in these regions.
  • Dhaka, Bangladesh

Director General

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
02.2009 - 10.2011
  • Company Overview: Mymensingh, Bangladesh
  • Performed responsibilities as the Chief Executive of the nodal national research institute as per its mandates.
  • Worked as the Team Leader & Research Coordinator with a large number of international & national research and development projects and a number of aquaculture extension and farming system research & development programs focused on Institutional capacity building.
  • Responsible for planning, implementing and coordinating program related to freshwater (including marine species) fish breeding and quality seed production using generically improved breeds, fish feed and nutrition, fish disease activities as well as capacity building of scientist and technical staffs.
  • Developed strong interpersonal skills as the Chief Executive of BFRI with proven ability to effectively and successfully manage a large team of scientists/technical field staffs (75 Scientists, 17 Supporting Officers and 171 field level technical/office staffs) with the ability to interact with the diverse range of international and national counterparts, Government Department Officials, multi-disciplinary international teams, consultants and stakeholders.
  • In particularly was involved as the National Coordinator of FAO/GEF funded 'Support to Sustainable Management of Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project-Bangladesh component'.
  • Under this project, so far number of issues was addressed in collaboration with other LME partner countries to manage the coastal and marine fisheries resources management including the environmental threats to those in a coordinated, comprehensive and integrated manner.
  • Also involved working with a number of other international and intergovernmental fishery bodies like FAO, WorldFish Center; INFOFISH etc.
  • Responsible for the overall direction of the national institute as per its mandate to carry out and coordinate overall inland aquaculture and fisheries (including marine aquaculture and marine fisheries) in Bangladesh.
  • Assist the institute in identifying, planning and implementing programs in 5 main stations and 5 sub-stations located in a number of regions in the country for the development and management of fisheries and aquaculture in inland and marine waters in the country.
  • Among 5 main stations, as the executive of the institute I specifically oversee Marine Fisheries and Technological Station located in Cox's Bazar, for research on marine capture and culture fisheries, oceanographic dynamics, product development and quality control.
  • Involved as the National Coordinator of FAO/GEF assisted and funded BOBLME Project-Bangladesh component and working with a number of international and intergovernmental fishery bodies like FAO, WorldFish Center; BOBP-IGO; INFOFISH etc.
  • Involved as the Member of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of BOBP-IGO to promote, facilitate and secure the long-term development and utilization of coastal and marine fisheries resources of the Bay of Bengal.
  • Coordinate and formulate fisheries related various policies of BFRI & Bangladesh government.
  • Undertake responsibility to write and compile annual research progress reports/technical reports & acting as Editors of 'Bangladesh Fisheries Research Journal and 'The Fisheries Newsletter.'
  • Assist the institute in organizing international & national workshops/seminars/meetings/training activities; Coordinate in organizing regular meeting and interact with government and diverse range of international and national counterparts, multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders.
  • Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Director, Administration and Finance

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
10.2004 - 01.2009
  • Company Overview: Mymensingh, Bangladesh
  • Assist the Director General of the institute for overall Management of Aquaculture and Fisheries related donor funded and Government funded projects.
  • Supervise scientific and support staff management of BFRI.
  • Organize regular meeting and interact with government and diverse range of international and national counterparts and other stakeholders.
  • Formulate fisheries & Marine & inland aquaculture related various policies and provide TA on institutional capacity building on aquaculture extension and farming system research & development programs.
  • Assist the institute in organizing many international & national workshops/seminars/meetings.
  • Provided TA on Public Universities Fisheries department & Institutions like: Curriculum development, work-shop on pertinent issues on aquaculture & fisheries.
  • Take lead role for awareness building & advocacy program for conservation of aquaculture and fisheries related activities & coastal ecosystem management.
  • Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Director, Research and Planning

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
02.2001 - 09.2004
  • Company Overview: Mymensingh, Bangladesh
  • Assist the Director General of the institute in all matters related to research and planning, technical training and communication of the relevant institutes in the country and abroad.
  • Assist the Director General in identifying, planning and implementing programs in 5 main stations and 5 sub-stations located in a number of regions in the country for the development and management of fisheries and aquaculture in inland and marine waters in the country.
  • Among BFRI's five main research stations, as the Research Director of the institute I was specifically responsible to oversee Freshwater Station, Brackish water Station and Marine Fisheries and Technological Station located respectively in Mymensingh, Khulna and Cox's Bazar regions for coordinating all research related to freshwater aquaculture and marine aquaculture.
  • Act as Principal Investigator, Team Leader & Research Coordinator with a large number of international & national R & D projects including climate change adaptation and a number freshwater (including marine species) fish breeding and quality seed production using generically improved breeds, fish feed and nutrition; fish disease etc.
  • Provide technical guidance & supervision to a number of professional teams including international coauthors.
  • Organize regular meeting and interact with government and diverse range of international and national counterparts and other stakeholders.
  • Organize national & international training programs/workshops etc.
  • Undertake responsibility to design Project Concept Papers, compile annual research progress reports/technical reports & acted as Managing Editor for Institute's newsletter 'The Fisheries Newsletter'.
  • Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Chief Scientific Officer

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
10.1992 - 01.2001
  • Company Overview: Mymensingh, Bangladesh
  • Coordinate entire research planning, management and implementation of the two full flagged regional research stations of BFRI in Mymensingh and Khulna regions.
  • Supervise scientific and support staff management of two research stations of BFRI.
  • Team Lead to develop aquaculture technologies related to i) Carps, catfishes, tilapias breeding, genetic stock improvement, mass seed production and farming including a number of freshwater threatened fish species; ii) Integration of agriculture/livestock with aquaculture, iii) Fish health management; iv) Fish feed and nutrition.
  • Disseminate and transferring all those evolved aquaculture technologies to the rural farmers for improving their income and livelihoods.
  • Organize regular meeting and interact with GO and NGO counterparts and other stakeholders.
  • Create awareness & implement technical guidelines to control genetic degradation in hatchery stocks and conservation of endangered freshwater fish species in Bangladesh.
  • Act as Research Scientist, Principal Investigator, Team Leader, Research Coordinator, etc. with international and national research & development projects including climate change adaptation and a number of aquaculture and farming system research & development programs for sustainable rural livelihood development & food security.
  • Develop policy for sustainable use of coastal and marine fisheries resources in south western region of Bangladesh.
  • Develop strategy guidelines for coastal fisheries and livelihood management.
  • Design & implement research proposals & publish scientific papers & technical reports, books & extension manuals on fish breeding, farming and conservation of genetic resources.
  • Organize and conduct a good number of national and international technical training programs, symposium and workshops etc.
  • Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Principal Scientific Officer

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
04.1986 - 07.1992
  • Company Overview: Mymensingh, Bangladesh
  • Assist the Chief Scientific Officer of BFRI in all matters related to research and planning, technical training and communication of the relevant institutes in the country and abroad.
  • Undertake research to develop new aquaculture breeding techniques & conservation of threatened freshwater fish species.
  • Develop aquaculture technologies related to i) Freshwater fish breeding and quality seed production using generically improved breeds, ii) Fish feed and nutrition; iii) fish disease etc.
  • Disseminating/transferring the evolved aquaculture technologies to the rural farmers for improving their income and livelihoods.
  • Act as Principal Investigator, Associate Researcher with a number of aquaculture and farming system research & development projects for sustainable rural livelihood development & food security.
  • Organize & conduct training programs for extension officers/workers, public/private hatchery and nursery operators, middle level field staffs and rural farmers of Go/NGO organizations.
  • Monitor lab. and field activities of scientists/researchers involved in Freshwater Station.
  • Publish technical reports, scientific papers & research articles in the peer reviewed journals.
  • Capacity building of a large group of public and private sector fish hatchery and nursery operators, fish farmers and extension workers.
  • Mymensingh, Bangladesh

UNV Fishery and Aquaculture Specialist

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
04.1981 - 03.1986
  • Company Overview: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Assist the respective Syrian Fish Hatchery and Farm Managers regarding all technical aspects to manage and operate commercial fish hatcheries and aquaculture farms.
  • Undertake responsibility for carp and tilapia seed production through artificial breeding and management of hatcheries.
  • Design aquaculture production plans, extension of fish farming technologies & provide technical guidance to the Syrian counterparts for operation and management of commercial fish farms.
  • Organize and conduct training programs for technical field staffs in Syria.
  • Prepare and publish fish breeding, culture and pond management extension & training manuals, technical reports etc.
  • Develop experimentally standardized technique for induced breeding and mass propagation of grass carp in Syria 1985.
  • Studies on some aspects of carp and tilapia culture in Syria under UNV Multi-Sectoral Assistance Project in Syria.
  • Geneva, Switzerland

Scientific Officer

Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock
01.1978 - 03.1981
  • Company Overview: Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Hatchery operation and carp brood stock management.
  • Carry out artificial breeding and seed production of carp species.
  • Carry out surveys of aquatic life, investigate fish mortalities and study water quality management.
  • Publish technical reports, scientific papers & research articles in the peer reviewed journals.
  • Dhaka, Bangladesh

Education

Senior JSPS Research Fellow - Marine Aquatic Molecular Biology & Biotechnology

University of Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan
11.2008

PhD - Aquaculture

Institute of Aquaculture, Stirling University
Stirling, UK
04.1992

Master of Science - Aquaculture and Management

Bangladesh Agricultural University
Mymensingh, Bangladesh
01.1975

Bachelor of Science - Fisheries (Honors)

Bangladesh Agricultural University
Mymensingh, Bangladesh
12.1974

Skills

  • Policy development
  • Project management
  • Aquaculture technology
  • Genetic improvement
  • Seed production
  • Quality assurance
  • Aquaculture management
  • Genetic stock improvement
  • Research coordination
  • Data analysis
  • Workshop facilitation
  • Capacity building
  • Technical writing
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Problem solving
  • Team leadership
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Customer relationship management
  • Project analysis
  • Risk assessment
  • Project implementation
  • Analysis & evaluation
  • Reports and documentation
  • Verbal and written communication
  • Staff management
  • Business analysis
  • Employee management
  • Problem-solving

Personal Information

Date of Birth: 01/02/1954

Publications

I have already published >200 scientific and other papers listed by Google Scholar.

Expertise

Expertise in freshwater fish breeding, genetic studies, mass seed production and aquaculture farming (both freswater and marine fish species) and blue economy development.

Link

https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=1As8EEMAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

Affiliations

2010 National Fish Fortnight, 2010 Gold Medal Award by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh in recognition of outstanding contributions to the development of a genetically improved strain of indigenous rohu, i.e. Labeo rohita

2003 National Fish Fortnight 2003 Gold Medal Award by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh in recognition of outstanding contributions to the development of a genetically improved strain of silver barb (i.e.) Barbonymus gonionotus and further stock improvement of the GIFT strain of Nile Oreochromis niloticus

Languages

English
Professional

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Asia Region Coordinator

Fish Innovation Lab
07.2020 - 01.2025

Bangladesh Country Coordinator

Fish Innovation Lab
03.2019 - 06.2020

Fisheries Expert

Institute of Water Modelling (IWM)
05.2017 - 05.2020

Key Expert-Fisheries and Aquaculture

AECOM International Development Europe
08.2016 - 07.2018

Chief Aquaculture Adviser

EON Aquaculture Limited, Eon Group of Industries
11.2015 - Current

Fish Genetic Specialist

WorldFish, Bangladesh and South Asia Office
01.2013 - 12.2016

Director General

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
02.2009 - 10.2011

Director, Administration and Finance

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
10.2004 - 01.2009

Director, Research and Planning

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
02.2001 - 09.2004

Chief Scientific Officer

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
10.1992 - 01.2001

Principal Scientific Officer

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
04.1986 - 07.1992

UNV Fishery and Aquaculture Specialist

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
04.1981 - 03.1986

Scientific Officer

Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock
01.1978 - 03.1981

Senior JSPS Research Fellow - Marine Aquatic Molecular Biology & Biotechnology

University of Tokyo

PhD - Aquaculture

Institute of Aquaculture, Stirling University

Master of Science - Aquaculture and Management

Bangladesh Agricultural University

Bachelor of Science - Fisheries (Honors)

Bangladesh Agricultural University
Gulam M. Hussain