The 2009 Aquaculturist of the Year presentation occurred Friday, June 13th at the 2009 AquaFair Awards Luncheon in St. Andrews. Braden Hatt, of EWOS, presented the award before a crowd of approximately 100 representatives of NB aquaculture companies.

Nelson Alward is a familiar face in the NB aquaculture scene, working with industry, government and post secondary education throughout the past 25 years. After completing a Bachelor of Science from Mount Allison, Nelson took the Aquaculture Technician program at NBCC St. Andrews in 1983. He then worked with several hatcheries before becoming the manager for Connors Bros. Lake Utopia Fish Culture Station in 1986. He then moved on to the New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association, first as Manager of the Demonstration Farm, then as Programs Manager for the Association. In 1998, he took the position of ISA Surveillance Coordinator for the NB Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Soon after this, Nelson took a different path, entering the field of education as an instructor in the Aquaculture Program at NBCC St. Andrews. During the last 10 years with NBCC, Nelson has completed a Masters in Adult Education, and is now the Acting Department Head for Business, Trades & Technology at the College.

Over and above his dedication to the salmon aquaculture industry in New Brunswick, Nelson has also been very involved in AquaFair, serving as President in 2001. He is highly regarded by the NB aquaculture industry, and is truly deserving of the title “Aquaculturist of the Year”.