Donal Maguire left college in 1981 and went straight into salmon farming. He worked in Ireland for the first three years of his career, then moved to Scotland where he worked as a fish farmer, running various companies, mostly in the Western Isles.

In June 1997, Mr Maguire returned to Ireland to take up the position of Aquaculture Development Manager at BIM. Asked what he enjoys most about his job, he said the variety and the people involved. "You have to admire the enthusiasm and tenacity that these people have. And having been in the sector we try and give them as much support as we possibly can to drive it forward.

There is an enormous demand for seafood. The products of aquaculture are undoubtedly good for people's health and there's a need and a demand for them.

Despite some of the criticism that people level at it, I'm a real zealot about trying to get the truth about aquaculture out there and trying to redress the myths and legends that are circulating, because it is an environmentally benign industry, despite what people say, and fundamentally it's a good thing to be involved in."

Others individuals shortlisted for a contribution to aquaculture award are: Dr Jim Buchanan, Doug McLeod and Professor Randolph Richards.

Creative Salmon in Tofino, British Columbia have also been recognised for their public stance against anti-salmon farm campaigners. Commenting, General Manager Spencer Evans said: “For many years, salmon farmers and others in the aquaculture industry have tolerated the defamatory and untrue statements that are repeatedly made by some anti-salmon farm campaigners. Unfortunately, it came to the point where something had to be done about it.”

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