UK urged to establish national centre for land-based aquaculture

A new policy brief from the University of Exeter has called for the creation of a national centre for land-based seafood production, arguing that the UK needs a more coordinated approach if it is to develop a competitive recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) sector.

The paper, Investing in the UK’s Blue Transformation, recommends that the government establish a hub covering research, engineering, workforce training, business development and regulatory coordination.

It also calls for existing support programmes to be broadened to help farmers and investors adopt RAS technologies, and for research funding and other incentives to be aligned more closely with the sector.

The brief was developed through the UK Sustainable King Prawn Project and launched at the Shellfish Association of Great Britain’s annual conference, which took place 14-15 July.

Its authors argue that land-based systems could expand the range of aquatic species produced in Britain while reducing dependence on imported seafood. Around 80% of UK seafood demand is currently met by overseas supply, according to figures cited in the report.

At the same time, the policy brief warns that other European countries, including Denmark and Poland, are already investing in land-based aquaculture technology, with the UK risking falling behind despite having the potential to become a leading centre for research, innovation and commercial production in the sector.

“The UK has the research expertise, entrepreneurial talent and growing market demand needed to lead the next generation of sustainable seafood production,” argued University of Exeter Professor Rod Wilson, who leads the UK Sustainable King Prawn Project.

“The science is here, the entrepreneurs are here and the market is hungry. What it takes now is vision, and the spirit to go first and lead the way," added Sir Tim Smit KBE, co-founder of both The Eden Project and Innovation Nursery, who is also an Advisory Board Member of the UK Sustainable King Prawn Project.

“Get this right and Britain leads the next regenerative revolution, throwing the doors open to the thinkers, makers, misfits and creators who will reimagine how a society feeds itself: a circular, sustainable food system that is better for the planet, better for our health and a great deal more delicious,” he argued.

The Exeter team says RAS could be used to produce trout, salmon smolt, warm-water prawns, mussels, oysters, seaweed and high-value finfish such as yellowtail kingfish.

The authors emphasise the efficiency of land-based aquaculture, claiming that RAS can use up to 99% less water than conventional aquaculture methods. They also argue that some forms of land-based seafood farming could produce between 50 and 400 times more protein per hectare than beef, depending on the species and production model.

A proposed UK Centre for Land-Based Seafood Production would support applied research aiming to move technologies from development into commercial use, the researchers said. Areas identified by the brief include system engineering, animal welfare, energy efficiency, alternative species, economic performance and the recovery of production by-products.

The centre would also bring together regulators, planners and producers. The report argues that this could help businesses navigate planning, environmental, water and land-use requirements, which currently involve several parts of government.

A further priority would be the development of domestic hatcheries. According to the authors, greater UK hatchery capacity could improve biosecurity and reduce reliance on imported juvenile stock, while supporting smaller sectors such as shellfish and algae production.

Meanwhile, the team propose that training offered by the centre would range from practical short courses to degree-level and executive education, delivered in collaboration with universities and further education providers. Business incubators and accelerator programmes could also be included to help companies test and scale new production models, the report suggests.

Professor Ian Bateman, co-director of the University of Exeter’s Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, described the proposal as “a transformational opportunity to boost not only productivity and exports, but also the technology and engineering capabilities behind it”.

The report was welcomed by industry representatives, with head of the UK's Shellfish Association, David Jarrad, arguing that the country is “uniquely placed to benefit significantly from an expansion in its shellfish aquaculture sector – not just financially, but culturally and environmentally, whilst delivering on the food security agenda and supporting coastal communities with much needed jobs."

Caroline Voaden MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shellfish Aquaculture, said she would ask the government to consider the report’s recommendations.

“The project shows that king prawns can be produced at scale in the UK in a cost-effective, sustainable way, also reducing the carbon footprint associated with current overseas production methods and importation,” she said.

“I will certainly be calling on the Government to consider the recommendations in this report, and hope to see the industry receive the support it requires to flourish and increase production.”