Andrey Kuzmich Bogeruk (1946-2011)

We deeply regret to inform that Professor Andrey Kuzmich Bogeruk, Doctor of Biological Sciences, holder of the Russian Government’s Science and Technology Award, suddenly passed away on 9 January 2011.

Andrey Bogeruk was born in Kolodistoe, Uman District, Cherkasy Province, USSR. After graduating from the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Fisheries College and serving in the army, he started his work at the Laboratory of Acclimatisation and Fisheries Utilisation of New Species of the All-Soviet Research Institute for Freshwater Fisheries (VNIIPRKH) in 1968. He obtained a degree from the All-Union Correspondence Institute of Food Industry in 1974, defended his Candidate thesis in 1986 and his Doctoral thesis in 2000. From 1983, he worked as the deputy head, later as the head of the Technical Department of the Ministry of Fisheries of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Since 1995, he was the director of the Moscow Branch of the Federal Centre for Fish Genetics and Selection. He was an excellent specialist in aquaculture, in the field of organising and managing selective breeding in Russian fish farming. He was the author of around 100 scientific papers and monographs.

Andrey Bogeruk stood at the origins of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Central and Eastern Europe. When the idea of NACEE emerged in 2003, he was one of the first persons to endorse the initiative and put much efforts in involving Russian institutions in the Network’s activities. He was the coordinator of NACEE’s Fish Genetics Working Group, a member of EAS, a founder of the Russian Aquaculture Technology Platform, closely collaborating with FAO. He had a strong focus on improvement of the international links of Russian aquaculture and using state-of-the-art world experiences for improving its efficiency. He regularly organized visits of Russian fish farmers and researchers to other countries for exchange of experience, held joint workshops, promoted participation of Russian researchers in international conferences, exhibitions, associations.

In addition to the professional knowledge and organizational talents of Andrey Bogeruk, everyone who knew him closely deeply respected his personal qualities – his open mind, friendliness, agility, talent to inspire others. With him, NACEE has lost one of its most active members, an excellent specialist and organizer, a wonderful person and friend. On behalf of all his friends in NACEE, we express our most sincere condolences to his family.