New aquaculture award launched

The awards reward innovation and best practice in Scottish aquaculture and will recognise operators who employ the highest standards of husbandry; offer innovative training programmes; support local communities; and manage their businesses with a high level of environmental awareness. New categories have been added this year to reward individuals, with awards for Farm Manager of the Year and Aquaculture Ambassador, as well as awards for processors, retailers and suppliers. Alex Adrian, Offshore Operations Manager for Scotland at The Crown Estate, said the industry-backed scheme reflects The Crown Estate’s recognition of the importance of the aquaculture industry in Scotland. “We’re keen to see the whole of the Scottish marine aquaculture industry receive the same recognition as is enjoyed by salmon farmers.” Doug McLeod, Chairman of the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers (ASSG), welcomed the expansion of the aquaculture awards to include the shellfish sector: “This recognition is part of the growing understanding that aquaculture is a diverse and multi-faceted industry, encompassing much more than just salmon,” he said.