Prof. Aysha Akhtar, Ph.D.

Governing Board Member | Bangladesh Nature Foundation

Professor Aysha Akhtar is a marine science and fisheries academic with extensive professional experience in marine ecology, fisheries, aquaculture, coastal resource management, environmental management, and community-oriented development. She currently serves as Professor at the Institute of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong, where she has developed a long-standing academic and research career. Her professional experience also includes engagement with national NGO programmes and international coastal management initiatives, providing her with a multidisciplinary perspective on marine resources, coastal communities, sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and environmental management. Her expertise and experience contribute to the Bangladesh Nature Foundation’s institutional efforts in nature conservation, sustainable management of aquatic and coastal resources, research, and community-focused environmental initiatives.

Academic Qualifications

Professor Aysha Akhtar holds a PhD in Marine Science from the University of Chittagong, with her doctoral research focusing on the production of silages from animal wastes and their utilization in formulating diets for Nile tilapia. She holds MSc degrees in Marine Science from the University of Chittagong and in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. She also holds a BSc (Honours) degree in Marine Science from the University of Chittagong. Her academic training has provided a broad foundation in marine science, fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic resource management, environmental management, and sustainable coastal resource utilization.

Professional Experience

Professor Aysha Akhtar has served at the Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong, in successive academic positions, including Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, and Lecturer. She has also worked as Senior Program Officer in the Policy Advocacy Department of CODEC (Community Development Centre), a national NGO working for the socio-political and economic empowerment of coastal communities. Earlier in her career, she served as a Project Researcher under the Integrated Tropical Coastal Zone Management Program at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. This combination of academic, research, NGO, policy, and coastal resource management experience has provided her with substantial practical and institutional knowledge relevant to environmental and community-based development.

Teaching and Academic Contributions

Professor Aysha Akhtar has extensive teaching experience in marine science, fisheries, aquaculture, environmental management, and sustainable resource utilization. Her undergraduate teaching has included Ichthyology, Biochemistry and Physiology, Fisheries Management, Sustainable Livelihood Approaches, Coastal and Marine Botany, Seafood Processing Technology, Aquaculture, Fish Breeding and Genetics, and Fish and Shellfish Nutrition. At postgraduate level, she has taught Fisheries Biology, Environmental Pollution and Management, Oil and Pesticide Pollution, Environmental Technology, Environmental Management for Sustainable Aquaculture Development, Aquaculture Nutrition, and Fisheries Post-Harvest Technology.

Research and Scientific Contributions

Professor Aysha Akhtar has conducted research covering marine and coastal ecosystems, fisheries communities, aquatic biodiversity, benthic communities, zooplankton, phytoplankton, aquatic macrophytes, environmental pollution, climate change, sustainable aquaculture, fisheries livelihoods, and utilization of fisheries and animal by-products. Her research has included investigations of coastal and estuarine ecosystems in Bangladesh, assessment of fisheries and aquatic communities, environmental quality assessment, sustainable aquaculture feed development, coastal livelihoods, and the relationship between environmental conditions and aquatic biological communities.

Research Publications

Professor Aysha Akhtar has an extensive record of scientific publications in marine science, fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic ecology, environmental science, and coastal resource management. Her publications include research on intertidal macroinvertebrate communities, benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators of anthropogenic disturbance, seaweed diversity, fisheries community structure, zooplankton and phytoplankton communities, aquatic macrophytes, coastal livelihoods, mangrove and salt-marsh ecosystems, water quality, heavy-metal contamination, and fishery resources. Her published research demonstrates sustained engagement with both ecological and applied dimensions of aquatic resource management.

Research Projects and Community-Oriented Studies

Professor Aysha Akhtar has participated in and led research and development-oriented projects addressing coastal livelihoods, fisheries, aquaculture, environmental assessment, and sustainable resource use. Her completed projects include commercialization of Artemia biomass and cysts for coastal livelihood security, baseline assessment of seaweed culture and marketing for coastal poor communities, production of fish-feed ingredients from animal wastes, feasibility assessment for dry-fish standards and certification, assessment of Gangetic river dolphins and aquatic communities in relation to coastal infrastructure development, and studies of fisheries by-products and aquafeed resources. These experiences provide valuable practical knowledge for community-based conservation and sustainable coastal development.

Coastal Resource Management and Conservation Experience

Her professional work demonstrates a strong connection with coastal resource management and biodiversity conservation. She has participated in programmes and workshops addressing marine biodiversity conservation, climate-change impacts on seagrass and salt-marsh ecosystems, governance of marine small-scale fisheries, shark and ray conservation, deep-sea cartilaginous fishes, good aquaculture practices, and sustainable fisheries management. Her experience in coastal ecosystems and resource-dependent communities is particularly relevant to conservation programmes that seek to integrate ecological protection with sustainable livelihoods.

Community Development and NGO Experience

Professor Aysha Akhtar has direct experience working with coastal communities through her previous role with CODEC, where she served in the Policy Advocacy Department of an organization focused on the socio-political and economic empowerment of coastal communities. Her research has also examined livelihood conditions, fishing communities, climate-change perceptions, and resource-dependent populations in coastal Bangladesh. This combination of professional NGO experience and community-oriented research strengthens her capacity to contribute to participatory conservation, livelihood development, environmental awareness, and sustainable coastal resource management.

Professional Contribution to Bangladesh Nature Foundation

As a Governing Board Member of the Bangladesh Nature Foundation, Professor Aysha Akhtar contributes her extensive expertise in marine science, fisheries, aquaculture, coastal ecosystems, environmental management, biodiversity, and community-oriented resource management. Her academic and professional experience can support the Foundation in developing evidence-based conservation initiatives, strengthening research and technical programmes, promoting sustainable use of coastal and aquatic resources, and connecting conservation objectives with the livelihood needs of coastal communities.

Role in Institutional and Scientific Development

Professor Aysha Akhtar’s multidisciplinary experience in higher education, scientific research, NGO engagement, coastal policy, fisheries, aquaculture, and environmental management provides valuable institutional capacity for the Bangladesh Nature Foundation. Her experience in supervising postgraduate research, conducting applied research projects, contributing to scientific publications, and engaging with national and international training and research programmes further supports the Foundation’s objectives in scientific knowledge generation, conservation planning, capacity development, and sustainable management of natural resources.