Fish farm vet shortlisted for top award

Fish farming vet Alison Brough has been shortlisted as one of three finalists in the prestigious British Veterinary Association’s Young Vet of the Year awards, to be announced in November.

Brough, who joined the veterinary team of Scotland’s second largest salmon farmer, Scottish Sea Farms (SSF), in February this year, was picked from a total of 105 nominees across the UK, in all fields of the profession.

The young vet, who graduated from the University of Liverpool School of Veterinary Science in 2017, spent the first few years of her career in the Scottish Borders tending to farm animals but wanted a change and successfully applied for a job advertised by SSF.

Brough threw herself into learning about the species and sector, before focusing on delivering veterinary support to the company’s farms on Scotland’s west coast.

A positive difference

“The more I travelled, the more I came to believe that one of the best ways I could make a positive difference would be to help those working most directly with the fish,” Brough said in a press release.

SSF’s head of veterinary services, Ronnie Soutar, nominated Brough for the award.

He said: “Alison very quickly showed an impressive ability to translate not only her new fish knowledge but also her solid grasp of veterinary basic principles into practical advice to farm staff.

“On her own initiative, Alison has taken over responsibility for fine-tuning and delivering fish health training at farm level, personally delivering training modules on a regular basis.

Alison recognises that the most important thing she can do for salmon health and welfare is to ensure that those with direct responsibility for the fish have the highest possible level of knowledge

SSF head of veterinary
services Ronnie Soutar

“She recognises that the most important thing she can do for salmon health and welfare is to ensure that those with direct responsibility for the fish have the highest possible level of knowledge.

“She is an excellent example of a young vet making a very positive impact, mainly through her recognition that the relationship with people is the path to helping animals.”

Huge achievement

The BVA Young Vet of the Year award, sponsored by Zoetis, aims to celebrate an exceptional young vet who leads, inspires, and goes above and beyond what is expected of them early on in their career.

Open to all young vets in the first eight years after graduation, and who are on the RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) register, the winner must show their work has made a difference. Making it on to the shortlist of three is a “huge achievement”, said the organisers.

Brough said she had seen first-hand the passion of those working in the Scottish farmed salmon sector and their commitment to overcoming fish health challenges.

“To be shortlisted as finalist for the BVA Young Vet of the Year, and help represent that passion and commitment, is an absolute honour, one that I hope will also help raise awareness of aquaculture as a career path for fellow and budding veterinarians,” she said.

Strong shortlist

The other finalists are Kirsty French, who works in a small animal practice in Milton Keynes, and Hannah Hunt, who handles farm, equine and small animal work in Wales.

French has been nominated for excelling at her clinical work, and co-leading her practice’s environmental strategy, resulting in the practice gaining a top-level Green Investors in the Environment accreditation.

Hunt was nominated for her impressive surgical and clinical skills and enthusiasm and positive attitude. She is learning to speak Welsh in order to strengthen relationships with her Welsh-speaking clients at her bilingual practice in Aberystwyth.

The winner of the BVA Young Vet of the Year Award 2022 will be announced at a gala dinner at the London Marriott Hotel in Canary Wharf on Thursday, November 17.