Aquaculture Is A Love of A Lifetime
Dr. Brian L. Nerrie has never been afraid of getting his hands dirty or any other parts for that matter.
For Nerrie, being knee deep in muddy pond water, wrangling a large flopping catfish or showing off a crawling palm-sized shrimp he harvested has always come naturally.
He grew up along the Hudson River, and was around water and fish most of his life. Nerrie turned a youthful passion into a 32-year career teaching others about aquaculture as an assistant professor and Extension specialist at the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) at Virginia State University (VSU).
“When I was growing up I wanted to be Jacques Cousteau and in essence I have, but I went fresh water rather than saltwater, and I can’t speak French that well. C’est la vie,” he once said, displaying the quick, dry wit he’s become known for.
Nerrie may not have been exactly like Cousteau, the renown French navy officer and ocean explorer, but he lived out his dream nevertheless, sharing his expertise in aquaculture at VSU, around the state, nation and even the world.
In October, Nerrie gathered his fishing nets and wading boots and quietly retired, but the legacy he leaves in the aquaculture industry in Virginia and at VSU will speak volumes for years to come.
“When I was growing up I wanted to be Jacques Cousteau and in essence I have...”
Nerrie is recognized as a leader in the field of aquaculture, especially among 1890 land-grant universities. He specialized in working with small farmers and conducting aquaculture education and outreach programs and visiting farm ponds all around the state.
“He is a stalwart. He came here 32 years ago, and he saw something in Virginia State University, and he made the decision to stay. He has been dedicated in leading the aquaculture program through many changes to what it is today,” said Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, 1890 administrator/ dean of the VSU College of Agriculture.
When Nerrie arrived at VSU in 1988, aquaculture was still a little-known field of agriculture, and relatively new in Virginia. The year before he arrived, VSU had built fish ponds on Randolph Farm, its 416-acre research and demonstration farm, in preparation for growing the fledgling aquaculture program.
His first task was to educate small farmers, many of them minority farmers, about aquaculture, and more specifically about raising a then new fish, the hybrid striped bass. Getting farmers, who weren’t big risk takers, to try something new was slow at first, Nerrie said. Adding to the challenge was that there were no local inputs in place, such as places to buy fish to be stocked, fish feed and aquaculture equipment and supplies. All those inputs had to be developed over time. But a few farmers came onboard, and their successes spread out like an oil drop in water. Those early successes helped raise the visibility of VSU’s agriculture program, which began holding aquaculture field days, demonstrations and workshops at Randolph Farm, which now has 57 ponds. The field days were capped off with a catfish fry that became a popular community event.
“Nerrie was responsible for many well-attended aquaculture field days held at the farm that showcased to the public the fish production process at VSU,” said Dr. David Crosby, an Extension specialist for fish health at VSU. Crosby and Nerrie worked side-by-side for nearly 30 years, often traveling to ponds together to assist and educate farmers.
Nerrie is also credited with introducing catfish, tilapia and shrimp production to farmers around the state, Crosby said. “Dr. Shrimp, one of his nicknames, may become part of his legacy. Promoting and raising freshwater shrimp as a profitable alternative crop for farmers, particularly those who raised tobacco and were looking to diversify after the industry’s decline in Virginia, is a big part of his legacy.”
It’s no question that Nerrie made VSU’s aquaculture and aquaponics programs recognizable and respected. His events even drew the attention of legislators, like then Governor Tim Kaine, now a senator, who visited VSU to observe its hybrid striped bass operation. Nerrie also set up popular annual displays at the Virginia State Capitol and the Virginia State Fair. He helped build partnerships and develop memorandums of agreement between VSU and aquaculture associations around the state, helping to raise money and visibility for VSU’s aquaculture program. In addition to working with farmers, he taught a VSU class each semester, helping educate the next generation of aquatic specialists.
“Dr. Shrimp, one of his nicknames, may become part of his legacy.”
His own education began at Marist College on New York’s Hudson River, where he received his bachelor’s degree, and then to Auburn University for a master’s and Ph.D. in aquaculture. In between his college stints, he spent four years in the Peace Corps volunteering and training in the Philippines and travelled back to the United States. He also researched thermal pollution’s environmental impact on aquatic life and helped build fish farms and water gardens in Jamaica, Latin America and Africa.
Nerrie came to VSU just as he and his wife of nearly 40 years, Sue, were beginning a family. The couple, who live in Colonial Heights, have two adult sons, and are now expecting their first grandchild.
During his 32 years at VSU, Nerrie regularly traveled to schools around the state to teach youth about aquaculture and aquaponics, often with Chris Mullins, Extension specialist in horticulture at VSU.
Mullins said he will miss the road trips with Nerrie to visit school children. “Brian’s absence will leave a void at VSU. He brought a really good spirit to Extension. I think he’s going to leave a good legacy. His legacy is introducing aquaculture to the state of Virginia, especially hybrid striped bass and shrimp production.”
While Nerrie has retired, don’t be surprised to see him with his net, hat and boots at a pond around the state giving a demonstration. Cousteau once said, “the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Nerrie’s love of water and aquaculture is forever.
Connection is published by Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture. Special thanks to everyone who contributed content, photos, ideas and time to this edition.
Executive Editor: Michelle Olgers; Writer/Editor: Lorraine Blackwell; Art Direction, Graphic Design: Brittany R. Hughes
Send address changes and circulation inquiries by email to molgers@vsu.edu. Editorial inquiries and other comments should be sent to Executive Editor, Connection, P.O. Box 9081, Virginia State University, VA 23806 or molgers@vsu.edu.
©2020 Virginia State University College of Agriculture
Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, Dean/1890 Extension Administrator; Dr. Wondi Mersie, Associate Dean/Director of Research; Dr. Janine P. Woods, Associate Administrator VSU Virginia Cooperative Extension; Dr. Michelle Corley, Interim Chair, Associate Professor Department of Agriculture; Dr. Crystal Wynn, Chair and Associate Professor Department of Family and Consumer Sciences; Dr. Berkita Bradford, Chair and Associate Professor Department of Hospitality Management
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