The search for an Executive Editor for the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society has come to an end. Following an extensive search, the Board of the World Aquaculture Society has selected Dr. Carole Engle to serve as Executive Editor for the journal. The search followed surveys of the membership and past-Presidents of the World Aquaculture Society to identify a future direction for the journal. The past-Presidents viewed the Journal as a fundamental benefit of membership to the society and as foundational to the WAS mission. The Journal was viewed as an indispensable means to disseminate science and to make it available to potential users. The membership survey showed that two-thirds of responding members also considered the Journal an important benefit of membership and that it played an important role as an outlet for publications of significance to aquaculture. However, results of the membership survey also clearly showed the importance of increasing the impact factor in the coming years. As a result, the Board has tasked the new Executive Editor with preparing and implementing a detailed re-invigoration plan to both sustain and strengthen the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society.

Carole Engle has devoted more than 35 years to aquaculture research, extension, and teaching. In addition to publishing more than 110 scientific articles, four books, and more than 80 extension publications, she has a combined 49 years of editorial experience, including serving as Editor-in-Chief of Aquaculture Economics and Management. She has been honored with numerous awards from the U.S. Aquaculture Society, the National Aquaculture Association, the Catfish Farmers of America, and the Catfish Farmers of Arkansas. Engle was on the faculty of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) for more than 27 years and, as Director of the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center and Chairperson of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, led it through a period of rapid growth, development, and expansion. She has worked closely with aquaculture businesses around the world and values the contributions that science has made to the growth and development of successful aquaculture businesses on many scales of production. Recently retired from UAPB, Engle plans to continue her involvement with aquaculture science and industry through her involvement with the journal.

"It is an honor to have been selected to serve the society as editor of the society's journal," said Engle. "I feel strongly that JWAS provides an important benefit to members and that the journal continues to play an important role in the overall global aquaculture community. I am willing to work diligently to seek out similarly committed scientists from a broad and diverse set of disciplines, perspectives, and geographic regions to effect the improvements desired by the board and membership of WAS."

A re-launch of the journal is being planned for the triennial meeting in February, 2016, in Las Vegas, USA. The re-launch of the Journal will include hiring three Section Editors, a new cover design for the Journal, creation of three sections for the Journal (new science with potential to lead to either new aquaculture businesses or improved efficiency of existing aquaculture businesses, technological advances ready for adoption by aquaculture businesses, and review papers).

Additional updates on the re-launch of the journal will be published in the Magazine and on the WAS web site. WAS members can assist with the growth and development of the Journal by: 1) volunteering to provide critical and timely reviews of manuscripts submitted; 2) submission of their most important papers to the Journal; 3) development and submission of thorough review papers of important and emerging topics in aquaculture; and 4) organizing special issues on timely topics of importance to aquaculture. To offer assistance, Dr. Engle can be contacted at cengle8523@gmail.com.