Kevin Fitzsimmons

Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Arizona and past President of the World Aquaculture Society

Focus:  His research and extension work since 1981 at the University of Arizona have focused on improving the sustainability of the aquaculture industry in the US and abroad.  He has been a leader in the development of the tilapia farming industry on a worldwide basis.  Dr. Fitzsimmons received grants to work on the aquaculture display at The Land, EPCOT Center, Disney World, led the food production design and planning for BioSphere 2, and was a PI on multiple projects with the Aquaculture CRSP/Innovation Lab.   In 2017, he was awarded his second Fulbright Fellowship, a research grant working on commercialization of alternative ingredients for aquaculture feeds with three Universities in Southeast Asia.  In addition to his Arizona faculty position he is currently acting as the Team Leader for a four-year EU sponsored project “Myanmar Sustainable Aquaculture Project” MYSAP.  He is a Distinguished Adjunct Professor with the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok and a visiting Professor at KAUST University in Saudi Arabia and Yangon University in Myanmar. Kevin also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Monterey Bay Aquarium – Seafood Watch program and its associated Southeast Asia Fisheries and Aquaculture Initiative. Dr. Fitzsimmons is also a co-founder and judge for the F3 Future of Fish Feeds Initiative and their associated F3 Challenges. These related efforts are all devoted to improving the commercial and environmental sustainability of farmed seafood and encouraging markets to support producers and their high-quality seafood products across the value chain.

Education:  BS University of Arizona, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, MS, University of West Florida, Marine Biology, PhD. University of Arizona, Wildlife and Fisheries

Background: Grew up as eldest of three sons of US AIR FORCE Colonel. Moved many times growing up and attended 12 different schools by end of graduate education.

Notable Accomplishments:  Elected President of US and World Aquaculture Societies, second Chairman of the global charity Aquaculture Without Frontiers, two Fulbright Fellowships (2004 and 2017) focused on sustainable aquaculture in Asia, co-organized and co-chaired the last 9 International Symposia on Tilapia in Aquaculture

Why Aquaculture: My undergraduate Marine Biology professor said in a lecture that we had to stop hunting and gathering from the ocean and instead domesticate marine animals and plants just as we had with terrestrial livestock and plants.   And further, that there would be plenty of public and private sector jobs in the industry as it was so important to feeding the world in the future.  It made so much sense to me that I decided right then that this was what I wanted to do for my career. 

ader in the development of the tilapia farming industry on a worldwide basis.  Dr. Fitzsimmons received grants to work on the aquaculture display at The Land, EPCOT Center, Disney World, led the food production design and planning for BioSphere 2, and was a PI on multiple projects with the Aquaculture CRSP/Innovation Lab.   In 2017, he was awarded his second Fulbright Fellowship, a research grant working on commercialization of alternative ingredients for aquaculture feeds with three Universities in Southeast Asia.  In addition to his Arizona faculty position he is currently acting as the Team Leader for a four-year EU sponsored project “Myanmar Sustainable Aquaculture Project” MYSAP.  He is a Distinguished Adjunct Professor with the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok and a visiting Professor at KAUST University in Saudi Arabia and Yangon University in Myanmar. Kevin also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Monterey Bay Aquarium – Seafood Watch program and its associated Southeast Asia Fisheries and Aquaculture Initiative. Dr. Fitzsimmons is also a co-founder and judge for the F3 Future of Fish Feeds Initiative and their associated F3 Challenges. These related efforts are all devoted to improving the commercial and environmental sustainability of farmed seafood and encouraging markets to support producers and their high-quality seafood products across the value chain.

Education:  BS University of Arizona, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, MS, University of West Florida, Marine Biology, PhD. University of Arizona, Wildlife and Fisheries

Background: Grew up as eldest of three sons of US AIR FORCE Colonel. Moved many times growing up and attended 12 different schools by end of graduate education.

Notable Accomplishments:  Elected President of US and World Aquaculture Societies, second Chairman of the global charity Aquaculture Without Frontiers, two Fulbright Fellowships (2004 and 2017) focused on sustainable aquaculture in Asia, co-organized and co-chaired the last 9 International Symposia on Tilapia in Aquaculture

Why Aquaculture: My undergraduate Marine Biology professor said in a lecture that we had to stop hunting and gathering from the ocean and instead domesticate marine animals and plants just as we had with terrestrial livestock and plants.   And further, that there would be plenty of public and private sector jobs in the industry as it was so important to feeding the world in the future.  It made so much sense to me that I decided right then that this was what I wanted to do for my career.