The Aquaculture Awards 2020 announced its shortlist of entries. These awards highlight the range of talent and cutting-edge advances in technology involved in the global aquaculture sector. A wide range of companies, research organizations and individuals from around the world have made the shortlists:

Finfish farmer of the year – sponsored by Gael Force

• Lovemore Ndovie, Kayalami Aquaculture
• Funke Olatunde – PhD student and fish farmer, Nigeria
• Ross Fennel – site assistant with the Scottish Salmon Company, Gigha, Scotland
• Noelia Rodriguez – hatchery manager for Scottish Sea Farms, Barcaldine, Scotland

Shellfish farmer of the year – sponsored by M&S Select Farms

• Gordon Turnbull – owner and operator of Isle of Mull Oysters, Scotland
• George Holmyard – manager of Offshore Shellfish, Devon, England
• Koo Eng Wah – Sepang Today Aquaculture Centre, Malaysia

Outstanding contribution to the industry – sponsored by Marine Scotland

• Amy Novogratz – co-founder and head of Aqua-Spark, Netherlands
• Alan Henshaw – manager of Calverton Fish Farm, England
• Alastair Barge – owner/operator of Otter Ferry Seafish, Scotland
• Djames Lim – CEO of the Lim Shrimp Group, Indonesia

Environmental impact – sponsored by Cargill

• Inovafeed – insect protein producer, France
• Fjord Maritime – generators for feed barges, Norway
• Nofir – recycling, Norway
• EWOS/Cargill Aqua Nutrition – developing compostable feed bags, Scotland

Aquaculture supplier of the year – sponsored by Stingray

• Benchmark Genetics/StofnFiskur
• Ace Aquatec
• NAFC Marine Centre UHI
• Gael Force Group

Community initiative

• Loch Duart – Salmon Pool community funding
• Mowi Scotland – Salmon Wagon
• The Scottish Salmon Company – Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub (OHLEH), Lewis

Economic sustainability – sponsored by BioMar

• Aquaseed Fishtecknik – fish smokers, Nigeria
• The Scottish Salmon Company – Apprentice to Expert training scheme, Scotland
• Scottish Sea Farms – Eday Employee Housing, Scotland
• The Scottish Salmon Company – Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub (OHLEH), Lewis, Scotland

Animal welfare – sponsored by MSD Animal Health

• John Avizienius and Malcolm Johnstone – RSPCA Assured
• FAI Farms – Tilapia Wellbeing project
• Benchmark Genetics – SalmoBreed Salten
• Ace Aquatec and Scottish Sea Farms – novel slaughtering systems

Innovation – sponsored by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre

• Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group – novel packaging
• Vita Aqua Feeds (World Feeds Ltd) – cleaner fish feed blocks
• EWOS/Cargill Aqua Nutrition/Gaia BioMaterials Ltd – compostable feed bags
• Ace Aquatec & Scottish Sea Farms – novel slaughtering systems

Rising star – sponsored by AILG Skills Group

• Funke Olatunde – Imoran Farms, Nigeria
• Rosie Dreghorn – Cargill/EWOS, Scotland
• Zoe Fletcher – AquaBio Tech Group, Malta
• Ivana Russon – BioMar, Scotland

Unsung hero

• Professor Chalres Ngugi – Kenya
• Dr Martin Jaffa – Callander McDowell, UK
• Nigel Woodhouse – Hawkshead Trout, UK
• Nick Bradbury – BioMar, UK

Collaboration – sponsored by the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture

• The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI)
• Mowi Scotland – River Lochy salmon enhancement project
• Davidsons Animal Feeds / The James Hutton Institute – seaweed in livestock feeds
• Benchmark Genetics / Nofima – development of whitespot-resistant shrimp

Winners will be announced at a special awards dinner taking place on September 16 during the Aquaculture UK exhibition in Aviemore, UK.