WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2013 11 In Memoriam Namibia is one of the most important fishing nations in Africa. From 1997 to 2010, the country’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Dr. Abraham Iyambo played a key role in promoting aquaculture in Namibia, despite large parts of the country being covered by desert. In 1995, when Dr. Iyambo was Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, he started thinking about global food insecurity, particularly in southern Africa. He was saddened by the fact that about 800 million people in developing nations go to bed with an empty stomach every night, ironic to him because Africa is endowed with abundant natural resources. Dr. Iyambo was tired of hearing about the meager contribution of Africa to global aquaculture production and had a strong belief that the potential was much greater and must be developed for broad benefit. He received The Legacy of Dr. Abraham Iyambo (1961-2013) for Aquaculture in Namibia approval from the Minister to begin developing aquaculture in Namibia. First he visited developed and developing countries engaged in aquaculture development to assess achievements and constraints and to confirm potential. Namibia needed a solid regulatory framework, so contact was established with various international organizations with capacity in aquaculture. As a result, FAO assigned international experts to assist the Ministry in drafting aquaculture policy, laws and regulations. In 2003, the Ministry established a separate Directorate of Aquaculture. Once a regulatory framework and administrative infrastructure were in place, pilot projects were established, particularly in rural areas, to demonstrate aquaculture and its potential in Namibia. A training and research center was set up. It is with great sadness that we convey the news that our colleague and friend, Professor James Muir, passed away in Edinburgh, in the early hours of 1 May. James had been ill for some time. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family. James was a great intellect, multitalented and worked exceptionally hard. He was a key member of the Institute of Aquaculture at Stirling University from the mid-1970s to 2009 and contributed massively to its development and our present status, especially on the international stage. In the late 1970s, James, Lindsay Ross and Christina Sommerville began the ODA-funded work on tilapias that eventually led to the development of the Institute of Aquaculture from the former Unit of Aquatic Pathobiology. His background was in environmental engineering and economics, with specific expertise in the aquatic sector, including resilient production systems, energy and resources, trade, market, investment and development policy; climate change mitigation and adaptation, research and education planning and management. His experience crossed the James Fraser Muir academic, commercial and public sectors, and he had an extensive international record in strategic sectoral planning, research management, program design, management and evaluation, for which his skills were highly valued by international agencies. On retirement from the Institute, James became a Professor Emeritus and continued his key work as an international development and research advisor and evaluator. He was a member of the UK Foresight Lead Expert Group on the Global Future of Food and Farming, and at various times a staff member of FAO, Fisheries Adviser to DFID, and an adviser to CGIAR and a range of other development bodies. James authored and edited more than 200 papers, technical reports, presentations, monographs and books. James will be warmly remembered by his many students and colleagues. We are all glad to have known and enjoyed time with him and he will be sorely missed. EDITORS NOTE: This notice was written by Lindsay Ross of Stirling University. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12)
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