The Young Aquaculture Society founded less than six months ago by Andrew Richardson of Salmon Scotland, focuses on supporting future leaders in seafood, shellfish, and finfish.
A new award, the Young Aquaculture Society (YAS)’s Early Career Innovators Competition, has been established to recognize young talent in the salmon and seafood farming industry. This initiative, aimed at fostering job opportunities in this growing sector, will announce its winner at the Aquaculture UK conference in Aviemore, Inverness-shire, in May.
The competition is now accepting entries and enjoys support from Diversified Communications, the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture (IoA), and the trade body Salmon Scotland.
YAS, founded less than six months ago by Andrew Richardson of Salmon Scotland, focuses on supporting future leaders in seafood, shellfish, and finfish through networking and professional development.
“Early career professionals entering the field inherently bring fresh perspectives, making them well-positioned to generate impactful ideas,” said Richardson.
“It’s truly exciting for us to introduce such a prize at this early stage of our organisation’s journey, and we are grateful to the Institute of Aquaculture and Aquaculture UK for sharing our mission.”
The winner, to be featured at a special event at Aquaculture UK, will receive complimentary accommodation and up to £200 for travel expenses. Prizes for second and third place are also planned. Membership in YAS, required for competition entry, is free and open for applications.
Participants in the competition are tasked with identifying challenges in aquaculture and proposing innovative solutions. The sector, particularly farm-raised salmon, is a significant employer in Scotland, providing over 12,500 jobs in various skilled roles.
The award is part of a broader effort to encourage young professionals in the field and enhance the sector’s development.
