A new award has been launched to recognize the achievements of young people working in salmon and seafood farming. The Young Aquaculture Society (YAS)’s Early Career Innovators Competition is part of a broader drive to boost job opportunities in this thriving sector.
The winner will be announced at Aquaculture UK in May. Entries are now open for the competition, which is supported by Diversified Communications, the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture (IoA) and trade body Salmon Scotland.
This initiative comes less than six months after YAS was founded by Salmon Scotland’s technical and standards manager Andrew Richardson. YAS aims to support future leaders in seafood, shellfish, and finfish through socializing, networking, and professional growth.
The winner will be featured at a special in-person event for sector professionals at Aquaculture UK, hosted by Salmon Scotland on May 14. They will enjoy a complimentary stay on the night, and the organizers will cover up to £200 for their travel to and from the event. Prizes are also available for the second and third-place runners-up.
The competition is open to members of YAS. Joining is free and takes just two minutes to complete an application. Participants are asked to identify a challenge or problem and pitch their solution, which must be related to aquaculture — whether on a farm, at a hatchery, in a lab, or addressing a digital challenge.
“Early career professionals entering the field inherently bring fresh perspectives, making them well-positioned to generate impactful ideas,” said Andrew Richardson, founder and president of YAS. “It's truly exciting for us to introduce such a prize at this early stage of our organization's journey, and we are grateful to the Institute of Aquaculture and Aquaculture UK for sharing our mission. We can't wait to see some great submissions from members and get inspired.”
“The farm-raised Scottish salmon sector is responsible for creating thousands of high-paid, skilled, and rewarding jobs across the country,” Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said. “With over 700 remarkable young people working directly on our farms, it's great to see a grassroots organization supporting these rising stars by encouraging networking, socializing, and learning. I look forward to hearing about their ideas for propelling our already hugely successful sector forward.”
