NAFC shortlisted

SHETLAND’S NAFC Marine Centre has joined salmon company Scottish Sea Farms on shortlists for the Crown Estate Marine Aquaculture Awards.

The Scalloway college is in the running for the aquaculture supplier of the year and the business development award, with the winners being announced on 13 June in Edinburgh.

Senior development manager Alan Bourhill said the NAFC’s aquaculture development team had provided training, consultancy and research services to more than 30 different production and support companies over the past two years.

Their customers include the top five fish farming firms, Marine Harvest, The Scottish Salmon Company, Scottish Sea Farms, Meridian Salmon and Grieg Seafood Hjaltland.

The NAFC was nominated for the aquaculture supplier award for its commitment to further the economic performance and sustainability of the industry.

The college entered itself for the second award which goes to the business judged to have made the most significant and positive contribution to its economic sustainability.

“These awards recognise ‘the best of the best’ in the aquaculture industry so we would have been thrilled to be shortlisted for just one, never mind two awards,” Bourhill said.

“The calibre of entries in both categories is always high, so we feel it is a great achievement to get this far in the process.”

On Tuesday Scottish Sea Farms were shortlisted for six categories in the Crown Estate awards.