We sadly note the death of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Yang Yi, who passed away at 2:41 am on 31 July 2009, at the age of 46. Yang Yi was an accomplished scholar, an excellent researcher, and an innovator in the field of aquaculture, especially in applying simple techniques to gain efficiency for small scale farmers with limited incomes. Yang Yi received his B. Sc. in Genetics degree from Sichuan University, China in 1985 and his M. Sc. and D. Tech. Sc. degrees in Aquaculture from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand in 1992 and 1997. Yang Yi was a total product of the Collaborative Research Support Program, a long-term project funded by US Agency for International Development. His doctoral work was funded by CRSP projects, and upon completion of his doctorate, he became a faculty member at AIT, seconded by University of Michigan and the Aquaculture CRSP. He became an assistant professor in 1999, an associate professor in 2003, and chair of the Department of Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management in 2005. In August 2007, he was hired as Professor at Shanghai Ocean University, as well as the Director of the Sichuan Aquacultural Engineering and Technology Research Center in Chengdu, part of Tongwei Group, the major feed producer for China.

Read the full Memorial in the Special AquaNews Edition in Memory of Yang Yi.

 

Yang Yi Young Scientist Fellowships

In 2010, AquaFish Director Dr. Hillary Egna created the Yang Yi Young Scientist Fellowship to honor the memory of Dr. Yang Yi. Since the award’s creation, several young scientists have been able to present at conferences thanks to the award. Recipients currently must be younger than age 35, have a PhD or be pursuing one, and must give an oral presentation about their work at the Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum. 

The recipients of the Yang Yi Travel Award are: Laila M. Gallego (2016), Isagani P. Angeles Jr. (2016), Kang Li (2014), Md. Shariful Islam(2014), Youji Wang (2013), Dongmei Zhu (2013), and Zexia Gao (2010).

Condolences to the Family and Friends of Yang Yi

Dr. Yang Yi was my Ph.D. supervisor at AIT. He was a good supervisor and great human being. His help to pursue and complete my Ph.D. timely is unforgettable. Actually, I had only partial fund from TWOWS for the study and I was looking around for the supplement. Knowing this, he provided me the CRSP research support so that I was able to pursue the study. When he left AIT for Shanghai Ocean University, I was writing the dissertation. I was shocked with the news and also scared of changing the supervisor at the crucial stage. Later, he clarified me that he would continue serving as the supervisor even from Shanghai, which he did sincerely. In my opinion, he was a very responsible and industrious person.

Dr. Sunila Rai
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science
Chitwan, Nepal


I am shocked and saddened by the news that Prof. Yang Yi had left us. Could you kindly extend my deepest condolence to his family for the loss of a beloved member and to the Shanghai Ocean University and his students for the loss of a great professor!

For his friends in Asia and around the world, Prof. Yang Yi will always be remembered for his contribution in the academic world and his personal support, enthusiasm and leadership in promoting and strengthening  regional cooperation through the work of the Asian Fisheries Society.

Chua Thia-Eng,
Former president of the Asian Fisheries Society


Indeed let me join you colleagues to indicate that Prof Yi inspired me in his career as a well seasoned aquaculturist. He published a lot of inspiring articles in refereed journals and numerous publications that most of us made a reference to in most of our work. I did not manage to see him. But his work will live!!!

RIP Prof Yi
Jeremiah


Dear friends, Very sorry to hear a bit late this sad news about Yang Yi. This is a great loss to all of us. I will be always grateful to CRSP that allowed me the opportunity to exchange and learn with him ...will miss his good humor and intelligence in the next aquaculture meetings. Please, express my sincere condolences to Yang Yi´s family.

Kind regards,
Maria Portella


This is to express my heart felt condolance to Prof. Yang Yi's family and his colleagues. Prof.Yang Yi was a very humble and innocent person. Let God rest his soul peacefully and wishing God's encouragemet and strengethening to his wife and son. Please somebody who has access to the family's mail pass this message.

God bless the remaining.
Getinet G.Tsadik (PhD)
AIT Alumni


This is a great loss of academia and for all who knew him in person. We are deeply shocked by this loss of an exceptional intellect and individual who will remain in our minds and hearts for ever. My deepest condolence to Dr Yang Yi’s family and friends. My prayers will always be with him.

With a heavy heart,
Atiq K. Ahmed


This is very sad news indeed. Dr. Yang Yi is well known to have lived a very fruitful life. Over the time, he fought to acquire knowledge, skills, competence and experience necessary to better manage his life. His legacy will remain for ever. May his soul rest in peace and God sustain you all.

We are shocked to read the news. On behalf of my University (Central Institute of Fisheries University (ICAR)), its faculty and staff members as well as on my own behalf I am sending condolences to the family members of Dr. Yang YI and pray that his family members get enough strength to contain the loss.

Dilip Kumar and CIFE family


Dear Prof Yang Yi’s family and collegues,

I enjoyed Prof Yang Yi great hospitality at AIT, when he hosted me, Prof Wahab and students for a USAID-CDR grant meeting. From then on we maintained continuous dialog and collaboration. He had a joyful, kind, eloquent and intelligent personality, and was a brilliant scientist full of new ideas to promote aquaculture. His loss leaves an irreparable emptiness in our souls and the memory

I was shocked and sad to hear of Yang Yi's death. I'm very sorry to hear about it; it's tragic to lose one so young and at the height of his life and career, both for his family and for his professional colleagues, including the CRSP.

I see from Kibria's email that, while I did not get the chance to interact with Yang Yi at IIFET 2008 as I would have liked, some others did. I was glad to hear that some connections were made even though I was not able to personally facilitate it.

My deepest condolences to you and the other program members, who feel his loss so keenly.
Ann


I'm extremely shocked at the painful news about Professor Dr Yang Yi last night. It is an untimely departure of Dr. Yang Yi from us, who was one of the most favorite teachers and friends in my academic life as well as in my professional career. He taught us pond dynamics and water quality management course at AIT (Asian Institute of Technology), Thailand during my academic life from 1998 to 1999. Since then I have had a contact with him on regular basis. And even I usually met him at various international conference in different countries. Also we met again last year in Vietnam at IFFET Conference 2008. With heavy heart, I should say that we surely lost one of the most finest and dedicated soldiers who had remarkable contribution in the field of tropical aquaculture especially on integrated rice fish farming as well as intensive cage culture in Asia and Africa region.

Furthermore, the World aquaculture community has lost a person who was a pioneer and promising aquaculture scientist. We would always recall and miss him with great love, affectionate and honour.

At this saddest moment of life, I'd like to express my deepest condolence to his great family, members and relatives. I wish and pray for his departed soul. I trust his family would be able to overcome this very hard time and bear this irreparable loss through courage and strength from the GOD.

With best regards,
Kibria
MFMR-Namibia


I am deeply socked and profoundly sad at this untimely death of our great friend Dr. Yang Yi. He introduced to me and country to CRSP and we worked together over five years. He became my family friend with a short time of our collaboration. I last met him in Busan, whe he brought Hillary to our table at the inauguration where Bangladeshi participants were present.

My post graduate students and I had lot of time together discussing aquaculture science. He was a great scholar and true friend.  The world has a lost a leader scientist, we have lost a dear friend. We will always remember him and think of him as a source of inspiration.

I pray for eternal peace of his departed soul and express deep sympathy for his bereived family. I hope God give them strength and courage to bear this irrepairable loss.

Best regards,
Wahab


I was shocked to hear Yang Yi’s death. Yi’s dedication and enthusiasm to aquaculture influenced many of his friends.  His contribution to tropical aquaculture will be remembered.  At this sad moment, I would like to express my deep condolence to his family. Wish his soul peacefully goes the Heaven.

Jianguang


This is the saddest news I received this evening from you. It's difficult to bear this sadness. Prof. Yang Yi was a dedicated aquaculture scientist, a very good teacher and a wonderful friend. He was loved by all his friends, fellow colleagues and students. He introduced me and my country to CRSP programme and we worked together over five years. We have applied for further research grants from CRSP this year even. The World has lost a promising aquaculture lead scientist and we have lost a great friend in his untimely death. We would remember him with great love and respect.

We pray for eternal peace of his departed soul and wish his family can bear this irrepairable loss through courage and strength (AMEEN).

Yours sincerely,
Wahab


Dear colleagues, friends and family of Dr. Yang Yi,

I write with great sorrow to express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of our colleague Dr. Yang Yi, who I had the opportunity to host and interact with during the AquaFish Host Country Principal Investigators Exchange programme (HCPIE) in Ghana over a year ago. This is a great loss to all of us and we will miss him greatly. We can never forget it but we will have to learn to live with the loss.

We don't know why God had to call him home at this time when his family and the scientific community needed him most. But God, in his own wisdom, has called him to eternal rest: this is the destiny of all men and all of mankind need to come to terms with it. "It is appointed unto man once to die but after death judgement". We have lost an astute and hardworking friend, a father and a colleague.

"My Bible tells me that to everything there is a season. There is a time to sow and a time to reap, a time to plant and time to uproot, a time to rejoice and time for sorrow. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to house of feasting. There is a time to be born and a time to die and the day of death is better than the day of birth" (Ecclesiates). Oh death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory? William Shakespeare also says" with the meditation that we must die once, I have the patience to endure it now". The hymnalist says I will praise my maker while I have breath. So let us remember our creator while we have breath; life is so short and transient. Dr, Yang Yi's departure is a big loss to those of us who worked closely with him as a team in the HCPIE programme and he will be fondly remembered by us all.

Dr Hillary Egna, Dr. Jim Bowman and Dr. Charles Ngugi, be comforted too because I can fathom what you are both going through. The Lord God is still in control of our lives. Bless you in Jesus' name.

May the soul of our departed brother, friend and colleague rest in perfect peace and God bless us all. May the Spirit of the the Heavenly God and Father comfort his family, friends and colleagues in China that he has left behind. AMEN!

STEVE (Ghana)


Dr. Yang Yi, was until his death a Professor in Shanghai Ocean University, President of the Asian Fisheries Society, Shanghai,  and Director, Sichuan Aquacultural Engineering and Technology Research Center Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

I have worked with him on USAID, ACRSP, AquaFish and presently on the Mali project. He has been instrumental in developing Aquaculture in Africa with primary focus on rice fish as well as intensive cage culture.

We shall miss his efforts and guidance in tropical Aquaculture.

RIP Yang Yi
Charles Ngugi


It is very sad to hear the worst news. Please send my sympathy and condolences to Dr. Yang Yi 's family.

Dr. Yang Yi was my best advisor and kindest "gege". I believe that now he has his best life in heaven.

Regards,
Nguyen Phu Hoa
Nong Lam University
Hochiminh City Vietnam


Please accept our deepest and most sincere condolences. We are deeply saddened by Yang´s passing.

It was my pleasure and honor to know Yang and refer to him as my colleague and friend. My wife and I will always remember him and his important accomplishments will live on.

With best regards to his family,
Dan & Suyapa Meyer
Honduras


Very sad to hear this bad news. Please bring my sympathy and condolences to Yang Yi family and friends, and wish them to overcome this difficult situation.

Dr. SO Nam (Ph.D.)
Adjunct Professor and Director
Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute (IFReDI)
Fisheries Administration


Dear colleagues

Our sincerest condolences go out to Yang Yi's family and friends. We wish them all the best through this time of lost.

Kindest regards
Staff: Division of Aquaculture
Stellenbosch University
South Africa


So very sorry to hear this sad news. May Yang Yi's soul rest in eternal peace.

He lived a full and fruitful life and therefore his legacy will remain even after death.

Kindly convey my deepest symphathy and condolences to Yangi's family. I will keep them in prayer during this very difficult period as they come to terms with the loss of their dear one. May they take solice in the knowledge that their beloved though departed is in a better place.

I know it is not easy for you either that you have lost a friend and colleague but time will heal. May God sustain you all.

Kind regards,
Nancy


On behalf of the Council and members of the Asian Fisheries Society, I wish to extend my heartfelt condolence and sympathy to his family and parents in Chengdu.

Prof. YangYi was born on the 19th June 1963. He received his B.Sc. from Sichuan University, China in 1985 and his M.Sc. and D. Tech. Sc. degrees from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand in 1992 and 1997, respectively. His research interests are aquaculture production systems, aquaculture wastewater treatment and recycling, water quality analyses and management in aquaculture, fish genetics and information data.

Prof YangYi was a visiting research investigator at the University of Michigan, USA, where he gained advanced knowledge in computer modeling, experimental design and data analyses. He has more than 20 years of teaching and research experience in aquaculture. He was an Assistant/Associate Professor at AIT seconded by the University of Michigan through its USAID sponsored Aquaculture CRSP project from June 1999 to July 2007.

In 2007 he re-located back to China and took up the dual position of a Professor at the Shanghai Fisheries University in Shanghai and the Director of Sichuan Aquacultural Engineering and Technology Research Center in Chengdu, China. He   coordinated the Aquaculture CRSP activities in South and Southeast Asian countries namely Bangladesh, Nepal and Vietnam and China since 1999.

Prof Yangyi was a very active member of the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS) and a councilor of AFS. His contributions were recognized by AFS members and he was elected as the President of AFS 2007-2010.

YangYi was an excellent aquatic scientist and a friend to many young scientists in Asia. He had always worked tirelessly for AFS and my great personal friend. His departure will be sorely missed by all his friends and colleagues in the Asia-Pacific.

Dr Chan-Lui Lee
Immediate Past President, AFS
1st August 2009


We hold Yang Yi warmly in our hearts and as a large family does, we are  mourning one of our own. Yang Yi saw many of us during the past month during the CRSP workshop in China, and many more of us in Seattle at our February Annual Meeting. Like some of you, I have known Yang Yi as far back as the early 1990s when he was an AIT student beginning his work within the very first Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture CRSP. We are privileged to have known Yang Yi as a veteran of the CRSP, a scholar, a great scientist, a prolific writer, a do-er of amazing things, a humanist, a father, son, brother, husband, and a dear friend.

With profound sadness,
Hillary