World Aquaculture Magazine - March 2021

WWW.WA S .ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2021 17 hatcheries with thousands of highly skilled technicians. Since I doubt if there are more than 100 qualified shrimp hatchery technicians in the world today, it is clear that the lack of skilled technical personnel is a major challenge.” In 1990, Ed resigned as president of Aquatic Farms, although he remained a Director on the AFL Board and continued to provide technical advisory services to some clients through AFL. But he also formed Edward D. Scura and Associates which allowed him to provide more in-depth technical advice directly to commercial shrimp farms and hatcheries. While based in Guatemala from 1990- 1993, a particular focus of Ed’s was dry season production problems in shrimp farms in Guatemala and Central America more broadly. This led him to focus his attention on the causes of and solutions to diseases, which were increasingly plaguing the industry worldwide. Ed knew the industry had to break its dependence on wild seed and broodstock, which frequently carried shrimp pathogens. For years he had been convinced that genetics would soon play an important role in shrimp aquaculture, just like it did in other animal-husbandry based agribusinesses, particularly pig and poultry industries. In 1994-1996, he was engaged by the Oceanic Institute to help try to commercialize some of its shrimp selective breeding technology for specific-pathogen-free (SPF) shrimp. Then, with two partners, Ed formed Shrimp Improvement Systems (SIS) in 1998, one of the first commercial genetic improvement programs for shrimp, with Ed as its operating partner. His plan stressed strict biosecurity, selective breeding for growth and disease resistance and good husbandry practices. Ed’s vision of SPF and selectively bred shrimp helped pave the way for the explosive surge in the farming of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei , especially in Asia. Globally farmed shrimp experienced a seven-fold increase in yearly production between 1985 and 2000, from 0.2 to 1.5 million metric tons. Global production today is approaching 6 million metric tons. Throughout his life, Ed battled stoically and conquered many serious health problems. He was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 1980 at age 36, underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment and, when those did not work, was one of the first adult recipients of a bone marrow transplant. Although the treatment ultimately gave Ed 40 more years of life, it also led to a cascade of serious and related health issues involving his heart, lungs and bones, which Ed took in stride and in good humor. Those around him never heard him complain about his health or use it as an excuse. He used to joke that, while many of his contemporaries lamented getting older, he looked forward to his birthdays because “it beats the alternative.” He was a survivor and an incurable optimist and readily shared his success in battling aggressive cancer to give hope to others with similar diagnoses. Ed had a wicked sense of humor and a presence that was magnetic—you knewwhen he entered a room—but he also had a humility about him and the ability to make anyone feel comfortable and that what they thought and had to say mattered. His optimism was infectious, and it was hard to say no to Ed. His charm and enthusiasm convinced some of the most prominent shrimp farmers to follow his lead. His ability to see things under a different light inspired an entire generation of shrimp farmers to find unorthodox solutions to persistent problems. The shrimp farming industry—and many of us —are better today because of his contributions. —Contributors: David Leong, Dr. Harris Wright, Kara Jimenez, Lorenzo Juarez, Robins McIntosh, Dr. Craig Browdy, Bob Rosenberry, Dr. George Chamberlain, Henry Clifford, Dr. G. Subba Rao, Dr. Gary Pruder, Dr. Claude Boyd, Kenneth Tay, Guillermo Jaramillo, Daniel Fegan, Josh Wilkenfeld, and Larry Drazba. Selected quotes from contributors: I found him to be a rather humble person at heart who realized very well the frailties and uncertainty of human life. I have great respect for Ed Scura and considered him a remarkable and nice person. He will be missed, and I am fortunate to have had him as a friend. — Claude Boyd In the early 1990’s, when I was overwhelmed that my 7-year- old daughter had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, Ed consoled me and said that he had already had many cancer surgeries and that Sarah would be fine. She was fine and is now a physician with two children of her own. I felt a strong sense of trust in him as a person. — George Chamberlain Ed was always excited about the next great idea. I learned a lot from him about commercializing shrimp genetic technology in the early 2000s. Ed’s “can-do, positive attitude” undoubtedly helped him beat the odds with cancer for so many years. He was an inspiration to many others fighting cancer who saw him as an example of what was possible. — Craig Browdy An extreme optimist that mixed likeability and serious academic and technical skills to become what I will call the Johnny Appleseed of shrimp farming, spreading modern shrimp farming worldwide. He was involved with many, many people from diverse cultures and countries that he introduced and inspired with shrimp farming. He introduced modern Galveston shrimp hatchery technology to Asia, he commercialized SPF Penaeus vannamei , created a genetic improvement company and was a cheerleader for anything and everything about shrimp farming. I am proud to say I am part of that very large group of people who owe Ed Scura credit for their enthusiasm and commitment for shrimp farming. — Robins McIntosh Other than those fewminutes in the car, there hadn’t been any concrete advance preparations for the meeting that I know of. Just before stepping out of the car, Ed said, and I think this is an exact quote, “I love this kind of meeting, I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to say.” — Josh Wilkenfeld ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ Ed’s passion for science and shrimp drove me into the industry and it wasn’t until many years later I realized how I was mentored by one of the greats. I am forever grateful that he showed interest in my professional development. Rest in peace, my friend, I’ll miss your Prada loafers. — Kara Jimenez ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 7 2 )