Applications for this year's version are open until 3 March
The awards, to be announced at a gala dinner in Inverness on Thursday, June 15, are presented annually and recognise aquaculture’s rising stars, long-term heroes, most forward-thinking enterprises and game-changing innovations.
With 14 categories – including, for the first time, Best New Start-up – this year’s awards will honour the hard work and high standards across the sector, both at home and abroad.
On top of prizes for Finfish and Shellfish Farmer of the Year, Aquaculture Supplier of the Year, and Best Aquaculture Company, there will be awards, too, for Sustainability, Community Initiative and Animal Welfare, among others.
There will also be the Judges’ Special Recognition award, selected by the judging panel from the awards entries, for the individual, project or business demonstrating impressive commitment and a responsible approach to aquaculture. See the full list of categories here.
Cheri Arvonio, awards director, said in a press release: “The Aquaculture Awards have become a highlight in the sector’s calendar, providing an opportunity for aquaculture people to champion their peers, as well as being a great excuse for everyone to get together.
“We want to hear about all those who have made an exceptional contribution in the last 12 months, whether it is farm staff on the ground going the extra mile, technical pioneers driving progress, or aquaculture leaders shaping future trends.”
The deadline for entries is 3 March and finalists will be announced by the judging panel on 20 March. Tickets to the ceremony – at the Macdonald Drumossie, Inverness – will then go on sale.
Host for the night is comedian Jo Caulfield, described as ‘one of the finest female comics at work’, and a regular on TV, at the Edinburgh Festival and a previous Aquaculture Awards compère.
The awards, which are free to enter and open to the entire industry, are staged by Diversified Communications, organisers of Aquaculture UK, the premier UK event for aquaculture stakeholders, held bi-annually in Aviemore.
For more information and to enter the Aquaculture Awards, contact the team at aquacultureawards.com.
