Aquaculture's brightest and best honoured at annual awards ceremony

Scotland’s aquaculture heroes have been recognised at the sector’s annual awards ceremony which included accolades for three salmon producers Scottish Sea Farms (SSF), Mowi Scotland, and Bakkafrost Scotland at the Hilton Glasgow last night.

SSF’s talent developer Irene Pozo shared the Rising Star Award with Sam Laurenson, of Shetland’s Blueshell Mussels.

The judges said Pozo stood out for her exceptional commitment to developing the next generation, through establishing school programmes, launching careers fairs, and delivering internal training at SSF.

Laurenson impressed with his breadth, passion, and sector-wide impact. He has championed shellfish, created apprenticeship pathways to employment, and connected with people across the industry.

Leah Macintyre, from Bakkafrost Scotland, was highly commended in the category for her commitment to working in her home community and her enthusiasm.

Farmer of the Year

SSF’s John Henderson – who achieved the highest production volume in the history of the site he manages - was named Farmer of the Year, and the company also took home the Animal Health and Welfare Award for its Lerwick plankton monitoring programme, which the awards judges praised for its proactive approach to fish health.

They were impressed by the programme’s strength of evidence, the quality of the team, and the potential for wider industry rollout.

SSF was also included in a rollcall of names for the BactMetBar project, which won the Collaboration Award. The project has developed an eDNA monitoring tool for fish farming. Collaborators who shared the award are the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), University of the Highlands and Islands, trade body Salmon Scotland, the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, Mowi Scotland, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Disability shinty

Mowi Scotland also won the Community Initiative Award for its Disability Shinty Festival, which judges said had a profound impact on individuals, families, and communities across Scotland, making it an outstanding and clear winner of the category.

Mowi’s Loch Etive site, which is used to raise large post-smolts, was named Aquaculture Site of the Year. Judges said the use of the brackish water loch as a natural, energy-efficient alternative to intensive RAS systems, was proof that nature-based solutions can deliver at scale.

There was further success for Mowi in the Judges’ Special Recognition Award, which went to Hugh McKinnon, who has been with the company for 44 years.

“Hugh McKinnon has given the industry not only his time, but his knowledge, care, and his example. Colleagues have been better farmers, and better people, for knowing him,” wrote the judges.

“This award carries real weight. It is a recognition of a life’s work. And the judges could not be more pleased to present it.”

Pyrolysis unit

Bakkafrost Scotland also featured in the prizes, taking home the Sustainability Award for its pyrolysis unit project at its Applecross hatchery. The waste management system, which produces useful biochar from fish sludge, draw strong praise from the judges for tackling a significant issue head on.

Requip Services, which repurposes steel rope from the oil and gas industry into aquaculture sinker tubes, was highly commended.

The Innovation Award went to Tritonia Scientific for its georeferenced 3D photogrammetry and digital seabed modelling, said by judges to deliver a genuinely transformational innovation in the monitoring and regulation of the seabed.

AkvaPartners’ solar-powered pen-mounted feeding system, which can replace diesel-powered feed barges for up to two months at a time, was highly commended.

Supplier of the Year

The Supplier of the Year Award went to Northern Light Consulting, which judges said consistently goes above and beyond for its clients and the wider industry.

The Unsung Hero Award was presented to Bronek Wronski, of LRQA, described as the person colleagues trust when the pressure is on.

The Best New Start-up was Blue Food Performance, a university-supported company that brings a science-led approach and robust metrics to its environment, sustainability, and governance dashboard and farm tools.

Standing ovation

The most popular winner of the evening was Alastair Barge, founder and now managing director of Otter Ferry Seafish. He received a standing ovation from the hundreds of people at the event when he walked on stage to collect his trophy for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry.

“Few people have given more to Scottish aquaculture than Alastair Barge,” wrote the judges, describing him as a quiet but constant force in shaping the industry we know today.

“He has kept the flame alight for halibut as a species for over 30 years, a testament to the patience, belief, and determination that defines a true pioneer.”