Scottish aquaculture sector honours innovation and leadership at 2025 Aquaculture Awards.
The winners of the 2025 Aquaculture Awards were announced at a ceremony in the Scottish Highlands on 19 June, recognising achievements across the UK aquaculture sector and beyond.
Held at the Macdonald Drumossie Hotel in Inverness and hosted by comedian Grant Stott, the event saw 13 prizes awarded to individuals, companies, and research institutions for contributions spanning innovation, sustainability, animal welfare, and community engagement.
Scottish Sea Farms received multiple honours, including Rising Star for veterinarian Alison Brough, Farmer of the Year for long-time site manager Alastair Fraser, and the Community Award for its “Heart of the Community” fund, which has disbursed more than £2 million to local projects.
Mowi, the world’s largest salmon farmer, was named Best Aquaculture Company in its 60th anniversary year. The company also won Unsung Hero for Dave Young’s work overseeing seabed environmental monitoring.
Other winners included:
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Harbor AS (Norway), awarded Innovation for its lice and jellyfish-repelling fence technology
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Packaging Solutions Scotland, recognised for reducing single-use plastics in aquaculture supply chains
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Swansea University’s Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, receiving the Animal Welfare award
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Underwater Contracting, based in Aberdeen, named Supplier of the Year for its subsea ROV services
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Esox Biologics, honoured as Best New Start-Up for its microbial genome mapping work
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Offshore Shellfish and the University of Plymouth, winners of the Collaboration award for their “Ropes to Reefs” project on offshore mussel farming and biodiversity
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Stuart Cannon of Kames Fish Farming, awarded Outstanding Contribution for more than 50 years in the industry
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Dr Richard Newton of Stirling University’s Institute of Aquaculture, recognised with the Judges’ Special Recognition award for his work on sustainability metrics in marine ingredients.
Organised by Diversified Communications and supported by sponsors including Cargill, Hendrix Genetics, the UK Department for Business and Trade, and the Institute of Aquaculture, the awards are an annual fixture in the UK seafood industry calendar.
“The Aquaculture Awards celebrate all that’s best about this incredible sector,” said Event Director Cheri Arvonio. “Congratulations to all the winners and those shortlisted.”