DuPaul retires
Dr. William (Bill) DuPaul has retired as Director of the Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS).
DuPaul devoted 32 years of exceptional service to VIMS and Virginia Sea Grant, including seminal contributions to the development of the crab-shedding industry, finfish and shellfish aquaculture, and the rebuilding of Virginia’s scallop fishery.
DuPaul is recognized internationally as a leading expert in fishing-gear design and evaluation, including development of exclusion devices for threatened and endangered turtles, and has spent many days at sea working hand in hand with industry. Taking data from the deck to the shore, he became a nationally recognized contributor to fishery stock assessment and management tasks.
The College of William and Mary’s Board of Visitors issued a resolution in November of 2008 recognizing DuPaul’s contributions: “Bill exhibits a rare ability to span the spectrum from pure science to delivery of practical guidance to a broad audience of users. This ability has been a hallmark of the leadership he has provided to the Marine Advisory Program.”
These sentiments are echoed by DuPaul’s contacts in the fishing industry and at regulatory agencies. DuPaul “has been a cornerstone of Sea Grant research in support of many East Coast fisheries for over 20 years,” says Ronald Smolowitz, the technical advisor to the Fisheries Survival Fund (FSF), an organization that represents the majority of the US sea scallop fleet. “Bill advocated and tested 4-inch scallop rings in the sea scallop fishery when most fishermen attacked their use. Time has shown that Bill was correct in advocating for the use of 4-inch rings, which are now required and accepted as beneficial by the fleet. […His] efforts are recognized by our industry as being very supportive and give the Sea Grant Program a good name in the eyes of fishermen.”
“Bill has made enormous contributions to scallop research and consequently the scallop fishery and the communities it supports,” says Patricia Fiorelli of the New England Fishery Management Council. “The projects that he and his students have been involved in over the years as well as his participation on the Scallop Plan Development Team have literally revolutionized the scallop management program while at the same time allowing us to meet our conservation and management goals.”
Professor DuPaul received his B.S. in 1965 from Bridgewater State College, and his M.A. (1968) and Ph.D. (1972) from the College of William and Mary. He joined the William and Mary faculty for a one-year period in 1972-1973 as an Assistant Professor in the School of Marine Science at VIMS. After a four-year appointment at Massachusetts Maritime Academy he returned to VIMS in 1977 as an Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Advisory Services, and Coordinator of the Sea Grant Advisory Program. He was promoted to Professor in 1985.
DuPaul’s Sea Grant efforts have been regularly recognized at the national level during his years of leadership, including receipt in 2008 of the prestigious William Q. Wick Award for Visionary Career Leadership by the assembly of Sea Grant Extension Program Leaders.
During his career, Professor DuPaul has authored and co-authored more than 40 scientific papers in technical journals and more than 60 scholarly presentations and talks.
In addition to his notable accomplishments in scientific research and advisory service, Professor DuPaul has also demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentorship. He served as major or co-major advisor to 23 graduate students at VIMS, and plans to continue pursuing his research on the scallop fishery as a Professor Emeritus.