SCRFA

Welcome to


Prof. Yvonne Sadovy's Homepage

 

School of Biological Sciences,

The University of Hong Kong

  
IUCN

| Introduction| Research interests | Related activities | Postgraduate research | Key publications |

 Prof. Yvonne Sadovy
(B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D. Manchester.)

Tel.: 22990603

Fax: 25176082

Address: Room 3S-01, The Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building,

The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

email: yjsadovy@hku.hk

Introduction

Prof. Sadovy joined The University of Hong Kong in 1993 after five years as Director of the Fisheries Research Laboratory of the government of Puerto Rico and then as biologist with the Caribbean Fishery Management Council of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA, USA). She was previously based at the Marine Science Department of the University of Puerto Rico. Current teaching activities emphasize the biology, fisheries and conservation of fishes. Courses coordinated include Fish Biology, Conservation Ecology, Fisheries and Mariculture at the undergraduate level and teaching in other courses including Environmental Management for postgraduates. From February - July, 2007, she was head of Department just prior its integration into the School of Biological Sciences.

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Research interests

Principal research interests involve the biology and conservation of marine fishes, with particular emphasis on the biology of groupers (Serranidae), and other reef fishes vulnerable to fishery exploitation. Investigations of trade in live tropical food and ornamental fishes, both locally and regionally, complement and direct these interests as does the more theoretical issue of the risk of endangerment to marine pelagic spawning species from fishing, in general. Field and laboratory-based research involve studies on reproduction, including sex differentiation, maturation and gonadal development, age and growth and the impacts of fishing in relation to reproductive biology, and effective managment for threatened species. Yvonne has an interest in public education on marine conservation issues.

Recent an ongoing research includes development of scientific model for sustainable exports of the Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) in relation to its CITES (Appendix II) listing and its role in the live reef food fish trade, and monitoring for management effectiveness (http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/a1237e/a1237e00.htm). Development of scientific protocols for documenting and monitoring fished and unfished grouper spawning aggregations in the Pacific and Caribbean.

tiger grouper Left: E. fucogutattus , the camouflage grouper. Highly valued for food. (Photo: George Mitcheson)

Right: E. striatus , the Nassau grouper gather to spawn in Belize. (Photo: Enric Sala)

Nassau grouper

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Related activities

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Prof. Sadovy founded (1998) and is currently co-Chair (with Dr. Matthew Craig) of the IUCN (World Conservation Union Specialist Group on Groupers and Wrasses, and collaborates with conservation groups such as the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong, Wildlife Conservation Society, TRAFFIC - East Asia AND THE Fook and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In particular her work has focused on threatened species, the Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus, in the tropical western Atlantic, and the Napoleon wrasses (Humphead wrasse), Cheilinus undulatus, of the Indo-Pacific region. Work involves sustainable management planning in particular in relation to the CITES (Appendix II) listing for the Humphead wrasse (http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/a1237e/a1237e00.htm).

SCRFA: Her work as the Director of the Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations (SCRFA) seeks to conserve and manage spawning aggregations globally in recognition of their high vulnerability to exploitation. The first book dedicated to spawning aggregations has just been released, co-edited with Dr. Pat Colin of the Coral Reef Research Foundation, Palau.

Spawning for Survival: 2 and a half minutes documentary for Spawning Aggregations -- Download Quicktime 7 here

PUBLIC POSITIONS IN HONG KONG: Board member Ocean Park and Chair of Ocean Park Sub-Committee on Education. Member WWF-HK Executive Committee and Chair of WWF Conservation Advisory Committee.

SELECTED MEDIA OUTPUTS:

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Postgraduate research

Masters and Doctoral postgraduates work on a wide range of species and issues with emphasis on local fauna, their biology, conservation and management, with international projects in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Recently completed and current research include croaker (Sciaenidae) biology and swim bladder trade, seabream (Sparidae) sexual pattern and fishery, shark fishery history and biology and conservation of local shark species, the coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, international live reef fish trade, population structure of groupers, and sea cucumber biology and fishery.

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Publications from 2004 and Beyond
 

Journals

Books

   

Other publications

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