The scientific journal Aquaculture Research has announced an annual award named after one of the founding editor-in-chief, Professor Ronald W. Hardy.
The Ronald W. Hardy Award, first presented in September 2025, includes a £500 prize and recognizes outstanding work by early-career authors in all journal topics. Eligible applicants must be first or last author, within five years of completing their PhD, and have a qualifying paper published no earlier than January of the preceding year (e.g., for the 2026 award, papers from August 1, 2025 onward). Applications are open now until July 31, 2026.
To apply, the candidate should send a summary of the work, between 150-200 words on the research topic and the main findings of the study to either the editorial office (are.office@wiley.com) or by contacting the Editor-in-Chief (chbailey@wiley.com). Moreover, as part of this initiative, we will promote the qualifying research and candidates on this page.
Likewise, Aquaculture Research announced the winner of its inaugural Ronald W. Hardy Award for Young Authors: Weiyu Chen, from James Cook University, Queensland, Australia for the paper: Non-Invasive Prediction of Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) Flesh Lightness Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, which also included co-authors: Dean R. Jerry, Ronald D. White and Leo Nankervis.
The study explores the use of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for non-invasive prediction of flesh greyness by collecting NIR spectral data through the fish's skin and correlating it with flesh coloration metrics. This novel approach holds significant potential for high-throughput screening in breeding programs and improving production practices in the aquaculture industry. By offering a cost-effective and animal-friendly solution, the findings pave the way for pre-harvest intervention strategies, ensuring superior product quality and enhanced consumer satisfaction. This breakthrough highlights NIR spectroscopy as a transformative tool for advancing sustainable aquaculture practices.
In addition, an honorable mention was given to Rafael Tsuyoshi Inoe Coelho, from Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, for the manuscript: Inorganic phosphorus supplementation in diets for farmed shrimp: performance and digestibility of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei fed monosodium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, magnesium phosphate and monocalcium phosphate, which also included co-authors: Jean-Gabriel Reynaud, Caroline Biard, Benjamin Ribeiro, and Daniel Lemos.
The study found that supplementing plant-based diets with inorganic phosphates, especially monosodium and monoammonium phosphate, significantly improved shrimp growth and nutrient digestibility compared to unsupplemented diets.
