Aquaculture Awards show goes on (virtually)
The Aquaculture Awards 2020, due to be presented in May but postponed during the coronavirus lockdown, will now go ahead in a virtual ceremony.
The announcement of the winners will be made across social media on September 16 this year, the organisers have said.
The awards, which celebrate the best aquaculture achievements of the past year, had been scheduled to take place as part of the Aquaculture UK exhibition in Aviemore in May.
But the event – sold earlier this year by Benchmark to Diversified Communications UK – became one of many casualties in the exhibition world as a result of the pandemic and has been postponed twice. The new date is now May 18-20, 2021.
Shortlists
However, the awards judges had already announced their shortlists and it was agreed that this part of the show would go on.
In addition to the 13 award categories decided by the judging panel, there will be an opportunity for the aquaculture industry to vote for the People's Choice Award from the shortlist of 40 finalists.
Voting will close at 5pm on September 15, with the winners announced across social media platforms the following day.
There will also be an award for the Best Overall Aquaculture Company, which is sponsored by Crown Estate Scotland, and is decided at the judges' discretion.
Event director Cheri Arvonio said: ‘These prestigious awards will once again highlight the incredible range of talent and cutting-edge advances in technology involved in the global aquaculture sector.
Judging panel
‘We are once again incredibly grateful to the judging panel, featuring Alex Adrian, aquaculture operations manager of Crown Estate Scotland; Martin Gill, head of aquaculture and fisheries at Lloyds Register; Nicki Holmyard, director of Offshore Shellfish Ltd; Professor Dave Little, head of research at Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture; Ingrid Olesen, senior scientist at Nofima; and The Fish Site's Rob Fletcher.
‘Once again, the quality of this year's awards entries has been outstanding. Congratulations and good luck to each of our shortlisted finalists.’
Votes for the People’s Choice Award can be cast via the official website voting form, HERE.
