Remembering Dr. Martin “Marty” Riche: A Champion for SustainableAquaculture and Global Community
Category:UpdatesAquaculture without Frontiers is deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, colleague, and longtime advocate, Dr. Martin “Marty” Riche, who passed away in June.
Marty was an internationally renowned aquaculture scientist whose career spanned more than three decades across the academic, public, and private sectors. A Research Professor and Principal Investigator in Fish Nutrition at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Marty was widely recognized as a leading authority in fish nutrition, larval culture, physiology, and recirculating aquaculture systems. Prior to his academic tenure at FAU and his pivotal work as Lead Scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, he earned his M.S. from Purdue University, his Ph.D. from Michigan State University, and served as a Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellow with the National Academies of Science.
Beyond his scientific achievements, Marty lived the mission of Aquaculture without Frontiers. His dedication to using aquaculture as a tool for poverty alleviation, food security, and community empowerment began decades ago when he served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone, co-managing the national fingerling production centre and training local farmers.
As a Director for Aquaculture without Frontiers – USA and a dedicated field volunteer, Marty generously lent his deep expertise to small- and medium-scale farmers, governments, and universities across African nations, including Kenya, Tanzania, Liberia, and Malawi. He firmly believed that teaching sustainable, locally adapted fish farming practices—utilizing native species and local feed resources—could create lasting resilience and improve livelihoods for generations.
As Marty himself often reminded us:
“It is recognized that in addition to the health benefits of fish, aquaculture can contribute to poverty alleviation, food security, and social well-being. By teaching and training farmers to grow native fish species, to incorporate locally available feed ingredients, to develop and follow bio-security protocols, and to reuse fish effluents to irrigate crops, fish farmers can develop truly sustainable farming methods.”
Marty’s warmth, generosity of spirit, humour, and tireless dedication to both science and humanity will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of working with him.
The entire global AwF family extends our deepest condolences to Marty’s loved ones, colleagues, and close friends.