World Aquaculture Magazine - March 2021

WWW.WA S .ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2021 19 extension representative to the California Aquaculture Association (CAA) —Aquaculture Development Committee (1986-2017). He provided science-based information for policy development and worked with CAA leadership and members on numerous projects. He was also a science advisor to the CAA Board (1999-2019), providing his expertise on aquaculture science and the relationships between aquaculture industries, research at UC and various government agencies. He also served on numerous committees of the California Farm Bureau, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Health Services. At the regional level, Fred was instrumental in WRAC outreach efforts since its inception in 1986. He led the Strategic Planning Committee in major revisions of the Manual of Operations, to emphasize the importance that WRAC must place on sound, relevant science and transfer of that information to the industry. He was a member of the Board of Directors, the Publication Committee and the Technical Committee. He authored numerous WRAC outreach publications and conducted frequent workshops. His outreach products were also used to convey the economic impacts of WRAC’s investment to federal agencies and congressional appropriations committees. At the national and international level, Fred was active on many committees of the National Aquaculture Association (NAA) and the World Aquaculture Society (WAS), including service as the President of the WAS from 1984 to 1985. In recognition of his website development, Dr. Conte was appointed to the USDA National Library Electronic Database —Aquaculture Steering Committee (1997-2008). Some of his more recent work on aquatic animal welfare led him to be a member of the USDA-NIFA Organics Standard Committee, Animal Welfare and Humane Slaughter Subcommittee (2006-2015). Dr. Conte has authored or jointly authored numerous peer- reviewed articles and outreach publications and has presented and/ or chaired sessions at hundreds of conferences. He also frequently organized and conducted aquaculture workshops and short courses. Dr. Conte was always a well-known figure at conferences and was so highly sought after for discussions, he would often develop laryngitis from voice overuse. Dr. Conte’s accomplishments were recognized through several awards: the CAA Presidents Service Award (1983), the WAS Distinguished Service Award (1985), the CAA Distinguished Service Award (1987), the US Department of Agriculture, Cooperative States Research Extension and Education Service Award (2004), for outstanding contributions to the growth and development of aquaculture in the U.S. through extension programs with national impact. In 2016, Dr. Conte received the highly prestigious NAA Joseph P. McCraren Award for Lifetime Contributions to the Aquaculture Industry. Dr. Conte retired from UCD on October 30, 2020 after 43 years of service. His legacy includes originating and implementing innovative and sustained research and outreach programs resulting in growth and development of aquaculture in the U.S. and throughout the world. He exemplified the role of the extensionist bridge between growers, academia, science and government. Dr. Conte was gentle and unassuming. He cherished family, valued friends and colleagues and often developed lifelong friendships with growers and leaders within aquaculture. He was known for his subject matter excellence, perseverance and drive to provide scientifically sound information to clientele. He embraced the use of technology and delivered captivating stories. You can listen to Fred talking about oysters and aquaculture in a series of podcasts at: https://dcbsp.ucdavis.edu/x/aqua/Podcast/download.htm. These are probably the only recordings left behind from Fred. He is gone but he can still talk to us. He will be dearly missed. —Contributors: Joel Van Eenennaam, Deanne Meyer, Abbas Ahmadi, Claire Moon and Beth Conte . Dr. Conte was gentle and unassuming. He cherished family, valued friends and colleagues and often developed lifelong friendships with growers and leaders within aquaculture. He was known for his subject matter excellence, perseverance and drive to provide scientifically sound information to clientele. He embraced the use of technology and delivered captivating stories.