MASNA intends to award two leaders a highly sought after award for those contributing to the marine aquarium industry for their impact on the sustainability of the hobby at its annual conference in Orlando in August. Those considered for this award must first be nominated for consideration by current MASNA members, no later than May 31st, 2019.

Annually, MASNA awards the prestigious MASNA Award and Aquarist of the Year Award to deserving individuals for their work in helping shape and influence the marine aquarium hobby in a way that positively contributes to the ongoing sustainability of the hobby to the future marine environment. Together with MASNA, previous winners of the MASNA Award confer to decide who has given the most to the hobby and industry to be deserving of that years’ awards. The 2019 nomination process is now underway and will remain open through the month of May for MASNA members. This year’s winner will receive their award at MACNA in Orlando on August 31, 2019.

The MASNA Award and the Aquarist of the Year Award are announced each year at MACNA (Marine Aquarium Conference of North America) and awarded during the Saturday banquet. Our 2018 MASNA Award winner, Frank Baensch and our 2018 Aquarist of the Year winner, Jamie Craggs received their awards at MACNA 2018 in Las Vegas, NV.

Frank Baensch as the 2018 MASNA Award Winner who is honored for his research contributions and early success in larval cultural and reading of captive-bred species.

Jamie Craggs was selected as the 2018 Aquarist of the Year award recipient for achievements in advancing the sexual reproduction of corals.

Biographies of previous MASNA Award recipients can be found here: https://masna.org/masna-programs/the-masna-award/

Biographies of previous Aquarist of the Year recipients can be found here: https://masna.org/masna-programs/aquarist-of-the-year.

Current MASNA members are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals for consideration for the 2019 MASNA Award or 2019 Aquarist of the Year Award on MASNA’s website at either page linked above.