Members - IUCN/SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group

Co-Chairs 2021 – Present

Brian Zimmerman, wearing an open-necked shirt, with dense vegetation behind him, smiling at the Camera — Brian Zimerman, Bristol Zoological Society, UK

Brian Zimmerman is the Director of Conservation and Science of the Bristol Zoological Society (BZS), with Executive Board responsibility for BZS’s animals and curatorial and keeper teams at Bristol Zoo Gardens and the Wild Place Project, as well as its veterinary services, its Institute of Conservation Science and Learning (including the Higher Education and Field Conservation and Science departments). Prior to joining BZS, he was the Chief Zoological Officer at the Zoological Society of London. At ZSL, he created the Fish Net Programme, an international consortium of zoos, aquariums, research institutions and NGOs working to save threatened freshwater fish species from extinction. He works in Greece and has also worked in Turkey, Madagascar, Brazil, Nepal and Turkmenistan on freshwater fish conservation projects. Brian sits on the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria’s (EAZA) Conservation Committee, the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP) Committee and is the Chair of the Freshwater Fish Taxonomic Advisory Group for EAZA. He is the EEP Coordinator for the family Valenciidae. He is also a Committee member of the European Union of Aquarium Curators.

Kathy Hughes in a wetsuit, standing with her arms raised in a pool with shrubs behind her and reeds in front — Kathy Hughes, WWF

Kathy Hughes is WWF’s Freshwater Biodiversity Leader and Asia-Pacific Freshwater Biodiversity Leader. Kathy has worked for WWF for twelve years where she has focussed on the conservation of freshwater biodiversity. She is particularly interested in freshwater biodiversity monitoring, strategic programme implementation, freshwater protected area efficacy, river basin governance and inland fisheries. Prior to working for WWF, Kathy worked for the Environment Agency and Chester Zoological Gardens. Kathy holds a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Ecology. Following on from her MSc Kathy also studied with the Tropical Biology Association in Madagascar. In 2013 she received the Emerging Professional Award from the International RiverSymposium. Kathy is also an active member of the Alliance for Freshwater Life, InFish and the Inland Fisheries Alliance and acts as an adviser to Shoal.

Previous FFSG Chairs

Dr Richard Sneider (2014 to 2021)

Professor Gordon McGregor Reid (2004 to 2014)

Freshwater Fish Specialist Group Regional Chairs

FFSG Regional coverage is split across 17 regions, each with its own Regional Chair

A man with short hair and glasses, wearing a shirt, smiling at the camera, against a plain background — **Western Palearctic**
**Dr. Jörg Freyhof** Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
and
**Baran Yoğurtçuoğlu** Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

**Eastern Palearctic**
**Prof. Dmitry Lajus**
Department of Ichthyology and Hydrobiology, Saint Petersburg State University, Russia

**Central Asia**
**Bakhtiyor Sheraliev**
Southwest University, Chongqing, China. Based in Uzbekistan

Southern Asia
**Dr. Rajeev Raghavan** Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, India

**China**
Prof. Junxing Yang
Kunming Institute of Zoology, China

**Japan**
**Dr Katsutoshi Watanabe**
Department of Zoology
Kyoto University, Japan
and
**Dr. Yoshinori Taniguchi**
Meijo University, Japan

**Mainland and Peninsular Southeast Asia**
**Dr. Chavalit Vidthayanon**
Seun Nakhasathien Foundation (Local Conservation NGO), Thailand
and
**Dr. Amirrudin (Amir) Ahmad**
University of Malaysia-Terengganu)

**Sundaland / Philippines**
**Dr. Heok Hui Tan**
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore

Snowcapped mountains surrounding a corrie lake. Gerry Closs standing in the foreground. — **Oceania**
**Prof. Gerry Closs**
University of Otago, New Zealand
and
**Nicolas Ling**
University of Waikato, New Zealand

North America
Dr. Stephen Walsh
USGS, Gainesville, Florida, USA

Mesoamerica
Prof. Topis Contreras-MacBeath
University of Morelos, Mexico

South America
Dr. Roberto Reis
Catholic Pontifical University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Northern Africa
Dr. Abebe Getahun
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Western Africa
Prof. Philippe Laleye
University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin

Eastern and Central Africa
Dr. Jos Snoeks
Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren and Leuven University, Belgium

**Southern Africa**
**Dr. Albert Chakona**
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity

**Madagascar**
**Dr. Ravelomanana Tsilavina Illitch**
Department de Biologie Animale, Faculte des Sciences, Antananarivo, Madagascar
and
**Dr. Paul Loiselle**
Wildlife Conservation Society

Special Advisors

Freshwater representative to the IUCN Red List Committee
Dr. Jörg Freyhof
Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
Biodiversity Michele Thieme
WWF-USA
Conservation Strategy
Mike Baltzer
Shoal
Fisheries
Prof. Ian Cowx
University of Hull
Re-introduction and ex-situ conservation
Tim Lyons
New Mexico BioPark Society, USA
IUCN Biodiversity Unit Liaison
Catherine Sayer
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, IUCN
Communications Adviser
Michael Edmondstone
Shoal
Membership Coordinator Monika Böhn
Global Center for Species Survival, Indianapolis Zoological Society
FFSG Intern and Newsletter Lead
Jason Motley
Youth Engagement Adviser
Felix Feider
Synchronicity Earth

FFSG Subgroup

Sustainable trade in ornamental fishes
Scott Dowd
New England Aquarium, USA

FFSG members with positions on other IUCN Commission Groups

SSC Freshwater Conservation Subcommittee
Professor Topis Contreras-MacBeath, Chair
University of Morelos, Mexico
Dr. Ian Harrison, Co-Chair
Conservation International
Dr. Matthew Gollock, Chair
Zoological Society of London, UK
SSC Marine Conservation Subcommittee
Dr. Matthew Gollock, Chair
Zoological Society of London, UK
SSC Salmon Specialist Group
Dr. Pete Rand, Chair
Prince William Sound Science center, Alaska, USA
SSC Sturgeon Specialist Group
Arne Ludwig, Co-Chair
Phaedra Doukakis, Co-Chair
SSC Anguillid Eel Specialist Group
Dr. Matthew Gollock, Chair
Zoological Society of London, UK
CEM Wetlands Ecosystems Thematic Group
Dr. Claudio Baigún, Chair
Wetlands International, Argentina
WCPA Freshwater Specialist Group
Harmony Patricio, Co-Chair
Griffith University
Dr. Ian Harrison, co-Chair
Conservation International

Joining the IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group

The FFSG welcomes applications for membership from anyone who demonstrates their commitment to FFSG’s mission and vision, and who can contribute towards the delivery of one or more of our goals. We believe that the aims of the FFSG are best met by a broad range of skills, experience and disciplines, and we welcome applications from a broad spectrum of experience, professions and skills.

How to join the FFSG:

If you believe you can make a contribution to the FFSG, please email the Membership Coordinator, Monni Böhm ([email protected]) with the following information:

• A short covering letter;

• A resume of your experience relevant to FFSG’s six key goals to include current activity and future plans, and your geography of interest;

• If available, a recommendation letter from an existing FFSG member;

• Your full contact details (including the name of your institute, your email and your address).