Nigel receiving the AFT Earl P. McFee award in 2002

On Friday, January 13, 2012, Nigel Allen, a well-known scientist and cherished friend to many passed away in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Nigel was raised in England and earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology as well as a Master's degree in Applied Fish Biology before immigrating to Canada.

Throughout his career, Nigel acquired wide fisheries experience, having worked initially with the seafood industry in the UK and subsequently in Eastern Canada. He was employed from 1992 to 1996 by the National Research Council of Canada as an Industrial Technology Advisor with specialization in seafood. He later moved on to become Director of Centre for the Aquaculture and Seafood Development at the Marine Institute of Memorial University, St. John's Newfoundland. During his time as Director, he established the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development at the University.

Nigel believed strongly in the transfer of scientific principles as tools for improved processes, products, food safety and successfully applied them to the seafood and aquaculture industries. He was truly a devout humanitarian with a big heart and lust for life. He embraced fisheries development in the 3rd world as a key component to prosperity and overall improvement of the human condition. Nigel was fascinated with international development and as such, decided to devote all of his time in recent years to bringing modern processing technologies to underdeveloped countries.

He spent extended periods of time in Thailand, Malawi, Viet Nam and most recently, Tanzania although he also worked on a variety of other projects in Europe, North America, Southern Africa, South East Asia and China.

Nigel met his wife, Nid in Thailand and had been living with her in Tanzania for the past few years, working on behalf of the Marine Institute and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges of Canada. Nigel was a unique individual, with a highly contagious personality. He successfully mentored scores of students, staff and industry personnel. He was both highly energetic and highly personable. He was passionate about three things in life: his family, his international development work and his golf!

As a faithful supporter of AFTC, he received the Earl P. McFee award for his achievements in 2002. We all learned a lot from his great experience and work all over the world. Nigel embraced and celebrated life and all its adventures each and every day of his 57 years.

A memorial service was held at the Marine Institute on Friday February 3, 2012 followed by a reception attended by hundreds of his family, friends and colleagues. Nigel will be sorely missed by all.

Nigel is survived by his wife Nid, his daughter Steffanie and his step children Tanya, Matthew and Michael.

The Joint AFTC/WEFTA/SST Conference will be held October 30 to November 2 2012 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater, Florida