John T. Hughes, of Vineyard Haven, a long-time fixture on the waterfront, was honored last Friday by colleagues and friends for his years of work in marine resource conservation at the old Massachusetts State Lobster Hatchery. For his efforts, he received the much coveted Dr. David L. Belding Award, recognizing his spirit and enthusiasm in the work he did for lobster and aquaculture.

In a dramatic moment, he was also told that the state lobster hatchery in Oak Bluffs, where he worked from 1948 to 1984, was renamed the John T. Hughes Hatchery and Research Facility. It was also his 90th birthday.

The new hatchery sign was unveiled by Mary Griffin, commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game, along with state representative Timothy Madden. Kind words and humorous stories filled the main meeting room of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission on New York avenue.

At the announcement of the renaming of the building, Mr. Hughes’ eyes became teary. “Oh My God,” he said, loudly. Although he knew he was getting the award, Mr. Hughes did not know that the building was being renamed.

The afternoon event was spirited. Mr. Madden said: “John’s body of work is a testament to turning a passion into a career and using a career to pursue a passion. The Vineyard is certainly proud the building is being named after a native son.” For the last two years, Mr. Madden said: “This is the only fitting name we could come up with.”

Mr. Hughes told attendees that the building where they were gathered had been built by his father, John Hawksworth Hughes, in the late 1920s. And the stones that so prominently mark the face of the building, giving it the informal name “Stone Building,” were acquired from Makonikey. In the audience was Mr. Hughes’s extended family, which included three daughters, a son and their families.

“Mr. Hughes’s work is critical to the scientific understanding of the life history of American lobster and greatly benefited long-term research and conservation of one of the most significant fisheries in Massachusetts,” said Commissioner Griffin, about the presentation of the Belden award.

Before an audience of more than 60 people, Mr. Hughes said he was deeply touched. “I knew Dr. Belding,” Mr. Hughes said. He recalled a humerous story of the two marking quahaugs as part of a shellfish growth study.

Officiating the event were Division of Marine Fisheries director Paul Diodati and his predecessor, Phil Coates. Mark Amorello, chairman of the state marine fisheries advisory commission, joined with the commissioner and Mr. Diodati in presenting a brass clock to Mr. Hughes as part of the Belding award.

There were many familiar faces who joined in the festivities. Mike Syslo, who was Mr. Hughes assistant at the hatchery, later directed the lobster hatchery until the raising of lobsters ceased in 1996; he continues to work at the hatchery as a senior marine fisheries biologist.

Also attending were two men who grew up in Oak Bluffs and got their start from Mr. Hughes. A few years ago Arnold “Arnie” Carr retired from the division of marine fisheries after working for 37 1/2 years as a fisheries scientist. He was inspired to go into marine science by Mr. Hughes. Today Mr. Carr continues to run an underwater search and survey company out of Cataumet.

Gus Ben David of Edgartown, who also grew up in Oak Bluffs, is the former director of Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and runs World of Reptiles and Birds Park. Mr. Ben David worked at the lobster hatchery for Mr. Hughes for two summers as a college student.

The Belding Award was created in 1989 to honor individuals who, in the opinion of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission (MFAC), have promoted the conservation and sustainable use of the commonwealth’s marine resources. In making the presentation, Mr. Diodati said the award is only given occasionally, not annually, to someone in the marine community who stands out. He praised Mr. Hughes for not only his work with lobsters but also for raising the facility to worldwide recognition. “It was a popular facility. Some called it ‘The Place John Built,’” Mr. Diodati said.

If they had known earlier that Mr. Hughes’ father built the commission building, where they chose to make the presentation, Mr. Diodati said: “We would have brought two signs.”