World Aquaculture Magazine - March 2021

WWW.WA S .ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2021 11 there who were just as passionate about aquaculture as I was or the that I got to meet the people whose research I was citing and realize just what a great group of people you all are. Regardless, I knew that I wanted to get more involved in this industry and that eventually led to me serving on the USAS Board for the first time in 2006. In my day job, I work at Delaware State University, where I have a split research and extension appointment, supporting a small number of very diverse growers, who are increasingly focusing on shellfish aquaculture. Throughout my career, I have endeavored to reduce aquaculture’s impact on the environment and believe a thriving aquaculture industry depends on our resolve to create the smallest environmental footprint possible. My professional goals are to continue to strengthen and support the aquaculture industry by conducting applied research and to share this new information with producers to enhance the industry and its products. I’m glad to help steer USAS in my new position as President. Of, course, I would be remiss not to acknowledge those who have come before me in this position. This list is long and I am fortunate to consider many of these folks my friends. Needless to say, I will be U.S. Aquaculture Society I t is a wonderful feeling to know that I have your confidence and support as I step into the role of President of the United States Aquaculture Society (USAS). My sincere hope is that I do the job justice while I am here; these are large shoes to fill! As I have been reflecting on what I would like to say once I had this special platform, I kept coming back to the path that has led me to this spot. Growing up, I had no background in farming, and I definitely didn’t know what aquaculture even was, yet somehow this industry has captivated me since I first learned about it as an undergraduate student. Now I cannot imagine myself working in any other field. Mind you, initially I didn’t know how I would fit into the industry but those details didn’t matter at all. I just knew that I wanted to devote myself to feeding the world, the idealism of youth perhaps, but that desire has never left and I see aquaculture as one way to help do just that. It wasn’t until graduate school that I first learned about the USAS, like many others I would imagine, by presenting my in- progress research at an annual meeting. In my case, that was World Aquaculture 1999 in Tampa, FL. During my first meeting, I am not sure what struck me more - the national platform that I had to share MY research, the fact that there were hundreds of other people out C H A P T E R R E P O R T S Sinking to floating. Sub-millimeter to pellet. When you select an Extrusion Processing System from Extru-Tech, you have a complete Universe with the ability to maintain size yields over 95%. As your business evolves, you have the flexibility to change your finished product without the need for significant capital expenditures. In an industry where aquafeed can represent 50% of your operation cost, don’t gamble. Contact Extru-Tech and optimize your flexibility and profitability. OUR UNIVERSE EXTRU-TECH AQUAFEED UNIVERSE Sub 1 Millimeter Pellet Master Your Aquafeed Universe P.O. Box 8 100 Airport Road Sabetha, KS 66534, USA Phone: 785-284-2153 Fax: 785-284-3143 extru-techinc@extru-techinc.com www.extru-techinc.com ET-338F.indd 1 1/28/21 8:46 AM ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 2 0 )