World Aquaculture Magazine - June 2021

WWW.WA S .ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2021 15 E ddieWayne Shell, age 90, died May 14, of complications following a stroke. He was a researcher, educator and administrator in the Department of Fisheries andAlliedAquacultures, Auburn University from 1959 to 1994. He served as department head from 1972 to 1994. Wayne loved the outdoors and found his love for fish and fisheries in a small farm pond near his home. After graduating from high school in 1948, he planned to major in forestry, but soon switched to the fledgling program of fisheries in the Department of Zoology- Entomology at Auburn University. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in fisheries fromAuburn in 1952 and a Master of Science degree in the same discipline in 1954. After graduation, Shell joined the military and served with a medical unit in Germany for two years. Upon his return he studied Fisheries Biology at Cornell University and earned his Ph.D. in 1959. He was then hired byAuburn University in 1959 and began a remarkable 35- year academic and professional career. At the time Dr. Shell was hired byAuburn, the fisheries program had only five faculty members. Over the next 14 years the program grew in size and scope under the leadership of Dr. Homer Swingle. By 1971, the program included 18 faculty members and numerous research staff and had become the Department of Fisheries andAllied Aquacultures. Following the sudden death of Dr. Swingle in 1973, Wayne Shell was asked to lead the new department. During his years of leadership, the Department of Fisheries andAlliedAquacultures continued to grow by leaps and bounds in many areas. Fisheries management research flourished under Wayne to support the valuable sportfish industry. He also developed cooperative programs to provide technical support to game and fish agencies throughout the southeastern states, addressing needs for better management of fisheries and aquatic resources. Alabama’s aquaculture industry experienced tremendous growth during the 1980s. Needs were addressed through research and extension programs. TheAlabama Fish Farming Center inWest Alabama became a reality under Dr. Shell’s leadership and to this day extension educators stationed at the Center continue to help solve problems while bringing better management tools to the industry. Wayne Shell encouraged what might be one of the most successful aquaculture research projects in the world. In an effort to develop good sources of animal protein to be produced in developing countries, research was being conducted on tilapia. Research to O B I T U A R Y Eddie Wayne Shell, 1930-2021 control unwanted reproduction led to discovery of sex-reversal techniques that then led to all-male populations. This opened the door of opportunity for a whole new aquaculture industry — commercial tilapia culture. Shell oversaw research and extension activities throughout the state, including coastal areas. Under his direction, research was initiated with shrimp, red snapper and oysters. The Center for Marine Extension and Research was established on the coast of Alabama. Today marine shrimp are being produced worldwide, including in saline groundwater in West Alabama ponds. Research on shrimp nutrition and pond aeration by Auburn faculty has been a big part of the technology that led to the success of the shrimp aquaculture. Oyster farming techniques developed at the Marine Center are now being successfully used around the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Shell recognized early in his career that to have quality fish from ponds, reservoirs and farmed sources, the department needed to develop programs to address water quality and quantity. Research into pond fertilization and aeration has been a huge part of successful aquaculture around the world. Research into aquatic animal health was expanded. Genetics and fish breeding programs were developed. Most of these research-focused programs were developed into regional projects. Citizen monitoring and education programs such as theAlabamaWater Watch were developed. During Shell’s tenure, the fisheries department, through its international arm— the International Center for Aquaculture — provided technical support to more than 100 developing countries. These programs were aimed at increasing fish production to provide badly needed animal protein for under-nourished people, for economic development and to provide better practices for managing aquatic resources. Throughout his career, Wayne Shell traveled the world extensively, learning of peoples’ needs and sharing his knowledge. He helped develop the international aquaculture training programs held annually inAuburn. These short courses provided continuing education opportunities for professionals from other countries to learn the latest techniques of modern aquaculture. Wayne Shell authored many books and scientific reports. “Door- stops” is what he called several of his tomes that include the 872-page “Evolution of theAlabamaAgroecosystem” published in 2011 and ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 7 2 )