Surrounded by the ocean on all sides, Taiwan has long shared an inseparable bond with the sea. Yet in recent years, global climate change, habitat destruction, overfishing, and bycatch have caused a dramatic decline in fish populations. If this trend continues, future generations may no longer taste wild-caught fish or witness vibrant schools beneath the waves, and ichthyologists could one day struggle to collect research specimens. Recognizing the importance of fish diversity and the need for sustainable fisheries has become a shared global commitment.
The Many Fishes of Taiwan — What’s Your Name?
Understanding fish begins with identifying their species. Scientific papers cannot be published without precise species names, which form the foundation for reproducible and comparable research. Taiwan enjoys a uniquely advantageous geographic position — located on the edge of the vast Eurasian continental shelf, encompassing both deep-sea and continental shelf environments, and situated at the intersection of three major marine ecosystems. Its diverse oceanic habitats have given rise to exceptional species richness, fueling the vigorous growth of ichthyological research.
A Century of Accumulation: Five Generations Shaping Taiwan’s Ichthyological Legacy
Ichthyological taxonomy in Taiwan has a legacy spanning more than a century. Beginning in the mid-19th century, pioneers such as Robert Swinhoe (British consul), George Leslie Mackay (Canadian missionary), Tsunasuke Tada (Japanese technician), and Masamitsu Oshima (Japanese ichthyologist) laid the groundwork for ichthyological research on the island. Following World War II, scholars including Johnson T. F. Chen, Ming-Jenn Yu, Michael Hin-Kiu Mok, Kwang-Tsao Shao, and Chyng-Shyan Tzeng carried this legacy forward. Over five generations, Taiwanese ichthyologists have described more than 400 new species worldwide and recorded more than 1,000 new species in Taiwan, yielding an extraordinary body of work.
Hosting the 7th and 12th Indo-Pacific Fish Conferences: Showcasing Taiwan to the World
In 2005, Taiwan hosted the 7th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (IPFC) for the first time, drawing nearly 600 renowned ichthyologists from around the world. The conference highlighted Taiwan’s remarkable achievements, including studies on endangered and extinct fish species, world-leading deep-sea fish aquaculture techniques, the first coral-reef fish surveys conducted at depths exceeding 100 meters, and the discovery of some of the world’s smallest fish, bringing international attention to Taiwan’s vibrant marine research community. During the conference, several new species were collected, including the Taiwan picnic seabream (Acanthopagrus taiwanensis), the torpedo fish (Torpedo formosa), and the shortnose ponyfish (Nuchequula mannusella), underscoring the distinctive nature of Taiwan’s ichthyological research. In September 2007, Taiwan was further invited to host the 2nd International Barcode of Life Conference, strengthening its global presence in molecular taxonomy. Continuing this legacy, Professor Wei-Jen Chen of the Institute of Fisheries Science at National Taiwan University hosted the 12th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference and the Asian Society of Ichthyologists Annual Meeting in June 2025, once again bringing the world’s ichthyologists to Taiwan and opening new avenues for international collaboration and research exchange.
From Specimens to Databases: Tracing the Past and Connecting the World through Taiwan’s Ichthyological Heritage
The latest issue of Marine Research (Vol. 5, No. 1), published by the National Academy of Marine Research (NAMR), features the article “A Review of the Taxonomic History of Taiwan’s Fishes” by ichthyologists Kwang-Tsao Shao and Hsuan-Ching Ho. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the key figures and milestones in Taiwan’s ichthyological taxonomy, examining the evolution of classification systems, the development of specimen collections, statistical records of fish species in databases, and the patterns and mechanisms shaping Taiwan’s fish biogeography. It also explores the taxonomy of fish eggs and larvae, cross-strait collaborations between Taiwan and mainland China, and the challenges and future outlook for ichthyological research, leaving a landmark record of Taiwan’s contribution to global fish taxonomy. A Must-Read!
Marine Research — A Key Platform for Marine Science in Taiwan
To deepen marine research in Taiwan and strengthen its connection with the global scientific community, the NAMR is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary studies across marine policy, resources, culture, science, industry, and engineering. With the mission of integrating national marine research capacity and expanding the horizons of marine science, NAMR launched the English academic journal Marine Research in 2021. The journal serves as an important platform for scholarly exchange and the publication of marine research achievements. For more information, please visit the journal’s official website (https://marres.namr.gov.tw/).
