Professor Thierry Chopin, renowned UNB Professor and Pioneer in the Field of Aquaculture, passed away on 18 July. Professor Chopin was a pioneering force in the field of aquaculture, renowned for his groundbreaking work on Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Chopin made significant contributions to the sustainable development of aquaculture. His innovative research in IMTA, which involves the cultivation of multiple, complementary species such as salmon, mussels, and seaweed, transformed traditional aquaculture practices. This approach not only enhanced environmental sustainability but also improved economic viability by creating balanced ecosystems that mimic natural interactions.
Dr Chopin was the past president of the Aquaculture Association of Canada, the International Seaweed Association and the Psychological Society of America. His laboratory, the Seaweed and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), carried out valuable research into creating a balanced approach to aquaculture for environmental sustainability, economic stability and societal acceptability. In 2018, Dr Chopin was awarded the prestigious distinction of Chevalier in the Ordre du Mérite Maritime of France for his marine biology and aquaculture research.
Born in France and after obtaining his Doctorate in biological sciences from the University of Western Brittany, Dr Chopin eventually moved to Canada in 1989 where he became a professor of marine biology at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John. Dr Chopin taught at UNB for 35 years, inspiring countless numbers of his students to pursue success in their scientific careers.
His wife wrote in a LinkedIn post, “I do not hesitate to write that I believe the world has lost a brilliant mind and scientist”.
His wife writes: “I pray that those of you who shared his passion for our world, particularly the ocean, will remember the moments the two of you shared with a smile, a laugh and perhaps also an appreciation for the depths of some of your discussions. Share the knowledge with the younger generation…whether they be your students, children or grandchildren…and perhaps think of him, because the dissemination of knowledge for the future was one of his many goals”.
Dr Chopin’s family kindly welcome any donations to the Thierry Chopin Award for Graduate Coastal studies, to honour and continue his legacy and further the studies of the next generation of scholars at UNB. You can donate at: www.unb.ca/chopinaward
The Aquaculturists
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