All the latest industry news from the UK
‘Outstanding’ students scoop NAFC honours SEVENTEEN students received awards at the NAFC Marine Centre UHI’s annual prize-giving ceremony on September 29, recognising their achievements across a range of disciplines, including aquaculture, fishing, engineering and navigation. The Jim Tait Prize for Aquaculture for the best student completing a Modern Apprenticeship in Aquaculture at SCQF Level 5 was awarded to Ross Johnson of Cooke Aquaculture, based in Yell. The NAFC said that during his apprenticeship, Ross had shown exceptional practical ability and know-how in all aspects of salmon farming and his written work was all completed to a high standard. The Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation Award for the best student completing a Modern Apprenticeship in Aquaculture at SCQF Level 7 was awarded jointly to Matthew Dade and Gary Buchan. Both work for Grieg Seafood Shetland, Matthew at the Setter Ness site and Gary at the Girlsta
Hatchery. Matthew is a chef to trade but has become a brilliant salmon farmer since joining Grieg Seafood two years ago, said the NAFC. He has shown a wide range of abilities while completing his apprenticeship. Gary has been working as a fish hatchery technician for two years and has progressed well since starting his apprenticeship. He has shown total dedication to his work and is hoping to go on to complete a Technical Apprenticeship. Stuart Fitzsimmons, NAFC’s section leader for Aquaculture Training, said it had been very difficult to choose winners from all those undertaking modern apprenticeships in aquaculture over the past year - 45 in total. ‘All of our apprentices have shown excellent progress but we have chosen Ross, Matthew and Gary for their exceptional practical and theoretical knowledge as well as their outstanding team-work.’
New general manager at AKVA AKVA Group Scotland has appointed Jason Cleaversmith as its new general manager, replacing David Thorburn, who has moved to a new role as head of export. Cleaversmith has more than 10 years’ experience in the aquaculture industry, and arrives at AKVA from a senior position as director of Business Development and Operations at the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC). Prior to joining SAIC he was the
Above: Jason Cleaversmith
head of Aqua Health for Novartis on Prince Edward Island, Canada, where he oversaw four biologics facilities, spanning
Above: (From left to right) Gary Buchan, the NAFC’s
Stuart Fitzsimmons, Matthew Dade, NAFC aquaculture trainer Laurence Pearson, Ross Johnson and the NAFC’s Saro Saravanan The NAFC Modern Apprentice of the Year engineering prize also went to an aquaculture employee -Stuart Anderson, who works for Grieg Seafood Shetland at its salmon processing factory in Lerwick.
Golfers in charity drive
both R&D and manufacturing activities. He has a PhD in marine geochemistry from the University of Edinburgh, and an MBA from the University of Glasgow. With AKVA in Scotland now employing more than 65 people, Thorburn is heading up the company’s expansion into the export market. He said: ‘Jason’s operational and business development background will bring great value to AKVA Group Scotland as it continues to develop
and thrive with the Scottish industry, as well as allowing us to develop our export business.’ Cleaversmith said: ‘I’m delighted to be joining the AKVA team at such an exciting time in its evolution. ‘Supporting the Scottish team and the delivery of our strategic objectives will be key, along with ensuring that excellence in customer service and the supply of innovative, and high quality products, is maintained.’
A TEAM from AKVA Group Scotland and the Scottish Salmon Company raised £5,015 for the Macmillan Cancer Charity after taking part in the charity’s Longest Day Golf Challenge. The team successfully carried out the challenge in 17.5 hours, completing four courses, 72 holes and walking a distance of 23 miles. They smashed their target of £3,000, raised during the 2016 event. The golfers were Robert Duncanson, Stuart Gordon, Andy Whyte and Andy Lynn from AKVA, and Donnie Sinclair, Chris Smyth, Cammy Gibb and Keith Mctaggart from the Scottish Salmon Company. The team are already planning for next year’s event and would like to encourage others to take part. To donate, visit AKVA &TSSC Longest Golf Day Challenge 2017 on the Just Giving page.
Co-op launches Scottish salmon group THE Co-op has launched a new Scottish salmon farming group as part of its commitment to selling responsibly sourced fresh fish. The group will bring together stakeholders across the supply chain, including key suppliers and long-standing processor Farne Salmon and Trout Ltd. It will enable the Co-op to build more strategic, long-term relationships with its Scottish
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suppliers while also focusing on best practice and performance, in support of its new salmon farming standard. Launching at a time when the Co-op’s salmon sales volumes are up 22 per cent year on year, the group will also look to invest in sector research to help future proof the industry. And it aims to work more closely with local communities in the Scottish mainland and
islands where Scottish salmon is farmed. Aisla Jones, the Co-op’s fish sustainability manager, said: ‘We’re proud to sell 100 per cent fresh farmed Scottish salmon in our stores. ‘We aslo want to make a positive impact within the Scottish communities that produce our world-class salmon and help future proof the industry for generations to come.’
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