Aquaculture Awards 2020 goes virtual

Due to the postponement of Aquaculture UK this year, the Aquaculture UK Awards Dinner will unfortunately not take place as originally planned. However, sponsors and judges all agree that it is vital that this important event does not go unmarked, so the organization announced that this year's winners will be celebrated as part of a unique Virtual Awards Ceremony across social media on September 16, 2020.

In addition to the 13 award categories decided by the judging panel, there will be an opportunity for the aquaculture industry to recognize the most inspiring and innovative of all the nominees via The People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Sølvtrans. Individuals across the global industry will be able to vote for any company or individual that has made it onto a shortlist, which means there are over 40 finalists to choose from for the People’s ChoiceAward.

This year’s awards feature a wide range of companies, research organizations and individuals. The biographies can be found here. Vote via the official website voting form by September 15, 2020. The winners will be announced across social media platforms on September 16, 2020.

“These prestigious awards will once again highlight the incredible range of talent and cutting-edge advances in the technology involved in the global aquaculture sector. We are once again incredibly grateful to the judging panel, featuring Alex Adrian, aquaculture operations manager of Crown Estate Scotland; Martin Gill, head of aquaculture and fisheries at Lloyds Register; Nicki Holmyard, director of Offshore Shellfish Ltd; Professor Dave Little, head of research at Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture; Ingrid Olesen, senior scientist at Nofima; and The Fish Site’s Rob Fletcher. Once again, the quality of this year’s awards entries has been outstanding. Congratulations and good luck to each of our shortlisted finalists,” said event director Cheri Arvonio.

There will also be an award for the Best Overall Aquaculture Company, which is sponsored by Crown Estate Scotland and is decided at the judges’ discretion. The judging procedure for the awards was based on a voting system following a rigorous debate between the panel.

The shortlist

Finfish Farmer of the Year – Sponsored by Gael Force Group

Lovemore Ndovie - Kayalami Aquaculture
Funke Olatunde – a PhD student and fish farmer, Nigeria
Ross Fennel – site assistant with the Scottish Salmon Company, Gigha, Scotland
Noelia Rodriguez – hatchery manager for Scottish Sea Farms, Barcaldine, Scotland

Shellfish Farmer of the Year – Sponsored by M&S Select Farms

Gordon Turnbull – owner and operator of Isle of Mull Oysters, Scotland
George Holmyard – manager of Offshore Shellfish, Devon, England
Koo Eng Wah – Sepang Today Aquaculture Centre, Malaysia Outstanding

Contribution to the Industry – Sponsored by Marine Scotland

Amy Novogratz – co-founder and head of Aqua-Spark, Netherlands
Alan Henshaw – manager of Calverton Fish Farm, England
Alastair Barge – owner/operator of Otter Ferry Seafish, Scotland
Djames Lim – CEO of the Lim Shrimp Group, Indonesia

Environmental Impact – Sponsored by Cargill

Innovafeed – insect protein producer, France
Fjord Maritime – generators for feed barges, Norway
Nofir – recycling, Norway
EWOS/Cargill Aqua Nutrition – developing compostable feed bags, Scotland

Aquaculture Supplier of the Year – Sponsored by Stingray

Benchmark Genetics/StofnFiskur
Ace Aquatec
NAFC Marine Centre UHI
Gael Force Group

Community Initiative - Sponsored by Diversified Communications

Loch Duart – Salmon Pool community funding
Mowi Scotland – Salmon Wagon
The Scottish Salmon Company – Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub (OHLEH), Lewis

Economic Sustainability – Sponsored by BioMar

AquaseedFishtecknik – fish smokers, Nigeria
The Scottish Salmon Company – apprentice to Expert training scheme, Scotland
Scottish Sea Farms – Eday Employee Housing, Scotland
The Scottish Salmon Company – Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub (OHLEH), Lewis, Scotland

Animal Welfare – Sponsored by MSD Animal Health