Celebrating Scottish fish expert's extraordinary international career

UK: Professor Randolph Richards CBE, director of the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling has received the prestigious award for Excellence in European Aquaculture given by the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP).

The award recognises his contribution to the development of European Aquaculture. It is one of many well deserved accolades Professor Richards has received over the last thirty years. During that time he has played a major role in the emerging aquaculture industry in Scotland, greatly benefiting the economy in the process.

As a leading fish disease specialist, he co-ordinated large EU research programmes on fish diseases, was a member of the UK’s Veterinary Products Committee, which licenses all animal medicines and oversaw the development of medicines which helped control the potentially devastating problem of sea lice infestation.

In 2008, he received the CBE; an award which reflects and pays tribute to outstanding achievement and service, right across the community and the nation as a whole.

Speaking of the changes in the aquaculture industry during the last thirty years, he said:

“It has been very rewarding to be involved in the groundbreaking developments which have taken place in Scotland and indeed worldwide, which have led to the establishment of a sustainable and efficient aquaculture industry.

“Production from traditional fisheries is at its limit and Aquaculture has filled the gap in providing healthy seafood products which are so essential to human health. The Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling has played a lead role in this development and it is very rewarding to have been recognised in this way by FEAP.”