Marcus Coleman, outgoing CEO of Seafish.
Photo: Nick Mailer / Seafish.
Marcus Coleman, the long-time Chief Executive of Seafish is set to step down from his role at the end of 2025, the organisation has announced.
Coleman, who has spent more than a decade heading the UK seafood public body, is departing to take up a new CEO role at another organisation, Seafish confirmed via a press release issued this week.
During his tenure, Coleman is credited with modernising the organisation and strengthening ties with the UK’s diverse seafood sector. In its statement, Seafish said Coleman's leadership helped focus and improve the support it provides to the industry, particularly through major challenges including Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical changes.
“I have had the enormous privilege to work alongside dedicated and committed colleagues who wholeheartedly believe in the UK Seafood industry and work tirelessly using their knowledge and expertise to support the sector in all its different constituent parts,” Coleman said in a statement.
“I would also like to thank members of the Seafish Board, past and present, who have always supported me and my executive team as the organisation has continued to evolve and improve," he added.
“Marcus has ensured that the highest standards of corporate governance have been upheld at Seafish while also being a great champion for the seafood sector,” said Mike Sheldon, Chairman of Seafish. “His contribution is widely appreciated and I thank him for his service and wish him well in his new role.”
The organisation confirmed that the recruitment process to find a successor will soon begin, and that its work "continues as planned as it remains focused on delivering for the UK seafood industry and its stakeholders”.
Officially the Sea Fish Industry Authority, Seafish is a public body in the United Kingdom that supports the entire seafood supply chain, was listed in recent years in The Sunday Times Top 100 organisations to work for.
Funded by a levy on the first sale of seafood products in the UK, it works across the sector, from fishers and aquaculture producers to processors, distributors and retailers. Its stated mission is to help ensure the industry remains sustainable, competitive and profitable.
In support of this, the organisation provides technical expertise, research and market insight, and plays a key role in promoting UK seafood both domestically and internationally. It also supports businesses in navigating major challenges, such as changes in policy, trade, and environmental standards. Seafish also contributes to skills development and upholds safety and quality standards across the industry.
Among its recent initiatives, Seafish launched the Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool (SCEPT), enabling businesses and retailers to calculate carbon footprints for both wild-capture and aquaculture seafood products. Early adopters of the tool include supermarket retailer Tesco and Hilton Foods.
The organisation also recently published its latest seafood trade report, finding that the UK’s seafood industry outperformed other export sectors in 2024, with export value rising last year by 13% to a value of £2 billion, led by salmon and mackerel.
