Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

A Report by Melanie Siggs and Key Traceability for Esmée Fairbairn Foundation March 2022

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

About this report Written in 2021 by Melanie Siggs, with Key Traceability, this report was commissioned by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to provide consensus on what the organisations working in UK aquaculture feel are the key risks and opportunities in relation to the development of UK aquaculture.

The views and opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Melanie Siggs Melanie Siggs has worked internationally in strategic roles for both commercial and NGO organisations across the food and timber sectors, She has specialised in fisheries and aquaculture over the past 14 years. She is a Director of the Global Seafood Alliance, Vice President of The Centre for Responsible Seafood and an Advisor to the World Economic Forum’s Ocean Program ‘Friends of Ocean Action’. Melanie is a former Special Adviser to HRH The Prince of Wales’ International Sustainability Unit. Melanie is a frequent speaker on sustainable seafood and a regular facilitator for UN FAO, The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, OECD, World Economic Forum and The Economist.

She is an Honorary Professor of the Heriot Watt University and holds an MSc in Responsibility & Business Practice.

Key Traceability Key Traceability is an independent auditing and consultancy firm offering services across the seafood industry.

They specialise in the social and environmental impacts of fisheries and aquaculture, with clients including retailers, worker unions, NGOs and fishing companies. www.keytraceability.com Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Founded in 1961, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the UK’s largest independent funders. The Foundation aims to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK. Their funds are generated by their investment portfolio. www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk

Contents Foreword by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation ....................................................................................... 1 1

Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 2 1.1 Aims and objectives ................................................................................................................ 2 1.2 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Scope ....................................................................................................................................... 4

2

Research ........................................................................................................................................ 4 2.1 Survey...................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Interviews .............................................................................................................................. 15 2.3 Literature review ................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.1 Global Aquaculture ....................................................................................................... 15 2.3.2 Aquaculture in the UK .................................................................................................. 16

3

2.3.3 Trends in UK Aquaculture ........................................................................................... 29 2.3.4 Challenges for the UK aquaculture industry .............................................................. 30

Key Findings for UK Aquaculture ............................................................................................ 34 3.1 UK Aquaculture Sector Stakeholder Landscape ................................................................... 34 3.1.1 Overall regulation ......................................................................................................... 34 3.1.2 Semi-governmental/NPMBs/other ............................................................................ 42 3.1.3 Aquaculture funding, support, and investment ......................................................... 44 3.1.4 Non-governmental Organisations (eNGOs) and Standard Holders.......................... 44 3.1.5 Academia ....................................................................................................................... 47 3.1.6 Media ............................................................................................................................. 47

3.2 Current and Future Priorities for UK Aquaculture ................................................................ 48 3.2.1 Governance and regulation .......................................................................................... 48 3.2.2 Ensuring access to markets for UK aquaculture produce ......................................... 49 3.2.3 Resources and inputs into production; limits to development................................. 50 3.2.4 Farming non-native species ......................................................................................... 51 3.2.5 Climate change impacts ............................................................................................... 52 3.2.6 Communities ................................................................................................................. 52 3.2.7 Training ......................................................................................................................... 53 3.2.8 Fish welfare ................................................................................................................... 53

4 Case Studies................................................................................................................................. 54 4.1 Devon mussels ....................................................................................................................... 54 4.2 Prawns in recirculating system .............................................................................................. 55 4.3 Scottish seaweed cooperative ................................................................................................ 55

4.4 Fish Vet Group ...................................................................................................................... 56

5 Country examples ....................................................................................................................... 56 5.1 Successful examples and effective initiatives ........................................................................ 56 5.1.1 Norway .......................................................................................................................... 56 5.1.2 Canada ........................................................................................................................... 57 5.1.3 South Korea................................................................................................................... 57 5.1.4 European Wind & Seaweed Farms .............................................................................. 57

5.1.5 USA ................................................................................................................................ 58

5.2 Unsuccessful start ups ........................................................................................................... 58 5.2.1 Cod farming (Scotland) ................................................................................................ 58 5.2.2 Producing worms for aquafeed (Wales) ..................................................................... 59 5.2.3 Barramundi Recirculation Aquaculture (England).................................................... 59

6 Recommendations....................................................................................................................... 60 Annexes ........................................................................................................................................... 66

Annex A: Survey questions .......................................................................................................... 66 Annex B: References .................................................................................................................... 67 Annex C: Organisations consulted................................................................................................ 73

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

Foreword by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation In 2020, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation launched a new strategy, setting out our contribution to restoring our natural world, securing a fairer future, and strengthening the bonds in communities across the UK. Given the dual climate and nature emergencies, we wanted to better understand how we could use our role as a funder to make the biggest difference, and where our resources could be applied most effectively.

The Foundation has been a key supporter of UK marine conservation and sustainable fisher-led organisations for many years. That heritage continues through our strategy for Our Natural World – and in particular, our funding priority: fishing in tandem with nature. The strategy gives us the flexibility and opportunity to explore areas within that priority that we are less familiar with, but where we wish to learn. This report was commissioned in that spirit – to enable us, and others, to gain insight into UK aquaculture.

We hope that this report will help us to understand the role that we can play in UK aquaculture, not just as a funder and investor, but using all the tools we can. We also hope that this report will be helpful and insightful to those that are interested or work in this area, to the diverse range of individuals and organisations working to ensure a better future for UK marine, and for the island and coastal communities that are closest to our seas.

Jenny Dadd Funding Manager – Lead for Our Natural World Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

1 Introduction Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future, and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK. Key priorities for the Foundation’s ‘Our Natural World’ pillar are sustainable and ethical food which is a key impact goal by 2030. Within that context fishing in tandem with nature is a priority area, and the Foundation cite more sustainable aquaculture as part of the solution to addressing overfishing. Two long-term outcomes of note, where more sustainable aquaculture might also play a role under this priority area, include Seafood consumed in the UK comes from well-managed stocks and Existing traditional coastal communities are sustained and the economy of small fishing communities is revived.

Under the ‘Nature-friendly farming’ priority area, two outcomes of relevance to this report are noted; the benefits, including health benefits, of sustainable farming are widely recognised and More people have access to and buy locally produced food.

Under the ‘Creative, Confident, Communities’ priority area sustainable aquaculture development may support communities to exercise greater power over their economic, social, and environmental future while addressing some of the long-term outcome ambitions such as driving positive social, cultural, economic and environmental change, and Community driven regeneration contributes to reducing climate impact and restoring nature Sustainable aquaculture has significant environmental and economic potential to support livelihoods in coastal communities as well as provide sustainable food. There are however risks and unsustainable practices that have a damaging impact on the environment. Esmée Fairbairn Foundation commissioned Melanie Siggs, with the support of the Key Traceability team, to carry out research to better understand the UK aquaculture sector in terms of its challenges and opportunities, in line with the priority areas and ambitions of the Foundation’sstrategy.

This research assesses aquaculture in the United Kingdom’s four countries (Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England), the NGO and other organisational capacity available to work with and influence the sustainable development of aquaculture, where efforts are currently directed, for example key projects or programmes, in order for the Foundation to consider if aquaculture should form a more active part of its funding to help reach its 2030 impact goals.

1.1 Aims and objectives The research team used the findings from desk-based research, an online survey, and bilateral interviews to lay out the landscape of UK aquaculture and to map NGOs, organisations and activities. The overall direction of the research was to provide an overview of UK aquaculture identifying those working on addressing sustainable aquaculture and noting current and future priorities within the sector. It aims to break down views and activity across the devolved nations.

The report aims to provide consensus on what the organisations feel are the key risks and opportunities in relation to the development of UK aquaculture. In doing so, the report aimed to identify innovation and good practice in aquaculture that demonstrates excellent environmental benefits as well as strong links to the local community.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Finally, the report explores and proposes best practice case studies to publish to disseminate learnings to the aquaculture sector, the funding community, and other interested parties.

1.2 Methodology The project was initiated in consultation with the Foundation to define the scope of the project and confirm the main aims and objectives as provided above. Generally, the project preparation was organised as follows: 1. Preparation

2. Research

3. Survey & Interviews

• Initial Discussions

• Desk-based Research

•

• Collation of Literature

• Stakeholder Mapping

• Survey Facilitation

• Agreement of Scope

• Literature Review

• Interviews with Key stakeholders

Preparation of questions

Table 1 - Overview of project streams

Initial discussions with the Foundation helped to define the scope of the project. Following these discussions, desk-based research was conducted and collated to appropriately inform the structure and contents of the online survey and interviews. Stakeholder mapping took place to identify key players, influencers and interest groups in UK Aquaculture across the four countries.

The project team then constructed an in-depth survey and used ‘SmartSurvey’ an online survey platform which offers a simple design that would facilitate effective outreach. The survey was released on 06/09/2021 and posted to social network sites as well as being emailed directly to key contacts identified during the stakeholder mapping. In doing this, the team sought to identify all relevant organisations, agencies, and NGOs to ensure they had opportunity to respond although surveys could be completed anonymously. The survey was extensive and required the participant to spend 10-20 minutes completing it. The survey was kept open for 2 extra days upon request from a respondent who required more time to complete it. Feedback and this request for additional time suggested that those wishing to respond felt the results would be of interest. The survey template can be found in Annex A. For more information on the survey results, see section 2.

Following the survey, interviewees were selected based on their particularly specific or extensive knowledge of the industry. The bilateral interviews aimed to further explore and deepen understanding of opinion of the UK aquaculture sector; particularly risks and opportunities for the environment and communities. The interviews allowed experts to provide more detail than the survey.

The project team held update meetings with the Foundation through the course of the research.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

1.3 Scope The scope of the project included research and interview information from the four devolved nations Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England. While the intent was to focus on NGOs active within the UK aquaculture industry, many other stakeholders were included where relevant to the research.

2 Research Three data collection methods were utilised to gather information and to develop conclusions.

Firstly, a survey was sent out to a specified list of sector experts and made publicly available on social media outlets. The research team worked with Esmée Fairbairn to develop specialised questions to gather information that would be useful to the study and the survey tool was agreed upon. Smart Information was sought from respondents with a broad range of opinions and aquaculture experience. This meant that the survey was targeted towardsrespondents who work for a variety of organisations, therefore had different motivations and opinions for their involvement with UK aquaculture.

Social media was the primary method of sharing the survey publicly with Esmée Fairbairn, Key Traceability and Melanie Siggs’ twitter as the principal accounts. Esmée Fairbairn’s post was Retweeted from Key Traceability’s account. The retweet was further retweeted and received 2 likes. Key Traceability’s tweet was also retweeted and received 2 likes, but it was also quoted in others tweets 4 times. Melanie Siggs’ tweet of the survey received the most attention with 4 comments, 10 retweets and 8 likes. Critical shares of the survey ie to accounts with significant numbers of relevant users via Twitter included Seafish (16,000 followers) SIFT Scotland (1050), Aquaculture UK (3455), BED Aquatic Ecology Group, Bryce Stewart (10,500), The Institute of Aquaculture at Stirling University (4805), Grant Stentiford (CEFAS) (2,090), Best Aquaculture Practice Standards (3,810), and Fish Farmer Magazine (1,795) who also included an article about the survey, with a link, on their website.

Figure 1 - The piece run by Fish Farmer Magazine (online) about the survey

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

Secondly, bilateral interviews were carried out. Contacts with expert knowledge relating to UK aquaculture were selected for interview. In total, 13 interviews were conducted over Zoom, Skype and in-person. The intent of the interviews was to allow a deeper level of questioning in certain areas or issues raised by the survey or to allow experts to speak freely about their views and experience. Furthermore, carrying out interviews with these experts allowed us to collect specialist knowledge pertaining to their specific field or area of expertise.

Finally, a literature review was conducted to gain an understanding of the wider context of the aquaculture sector across the UK and specific opportunities and constraints within each nation, with a particular focus on areas that were not possible to comprehensively cover through the surveys or interviews due to lack of representation. A live spreadsheet was maintained, so that any additional literature recommended via the survey or interviewees could be investigated.

2.1 Survey In total 23 people answered every question in the survey, and a further 25 partially completed it, thus a total of 47 responses were received. Whilst this may feel small the level of detail and time required to complete the survey and the relatively small sector makes us think this was a reasonable response.

Location and role Respondents to the survey were based around the UK; those who provided their location showed that there were 29 in Scotland, 11 in England, 3 in Northern Ireland and 1 in Wales (see figure below).

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Wales

England

Figure 2 – Survey respondent location

Respondents working in a variety of job positions took part in the survey including CEOs, scientists, and residents (see Annex C for a full list of respondents) The variety of positions helped provide a breadth of opinions on different areas of aquaculture.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

For example when asked ‘How important is it to include responsible aquaculture as a future UK food system?’ responses included: • • • •

•

“Supports rural economies. Provides revenue for local communities.”

“Fish and seaweed are good sources of protein and when farmed responsibly, working with the oceans, can provide a low impact source of feed.”

“The UK needs all it can grow, and the product per se is excellent food.”

“The emphasis must be on responsible, not on aquaculture. Our experience of salmon farming suggests that this industry is incapable of or unwilling to be responsible. The Scottish Parliament's Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee's recommendation should be adopted: '‘The Committee strongly agrees with the view of theEnvironment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee (ECCLR) Committee thatif the industry is to grow, the “status quo” in terms of regulation and enforcement is not acceptable.

It is of the view that urgent and meaningful action needs to be taken to address regulatory deficiencies as well as fish health and environmental issues before the industry can expand.”

“It is the most sustainable form of farming and since we rely on import from developing countries which will be battered by climate change very hard, we need to build our own supply.”

Q1 Which country are you operating in?

Question 1 responses shows that most of the respondents were located in Scotland, with England being the location with the second most amount of respondents (see figure below).

Respondents in Wales and Northern Ireland collectively accounted for only 9% of those that completed the survey. The distribution of respondents is likely to reflect which nations in the UK are the most involved in aquaculture and as such the number of interested stakeholders.

Figure 3 - Respondents of country of operations

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

Q2 What are the biggest drivers for responsible aquaculture sector growth in the UK? Please pick three for each country of which you have experience Question 2 demonstrated how those in different countries have varying priorities regarding the biggest drivers for the responsible growth of the aquaculture sector. The majority of thosein England responded that increasing food security is the most important consideration,whereas those in Scotland answered that increasing jobs & opportunities and meeting the forecasted increase in demand for seafood as the most important. In Northern Ireland, protecting wild fish stocks was noted as the most important and in Wales increasing nutrition and improving diets that were the most influential factors to consider.

Answer Choices Increase food security

England 50.00% 8 Increase nutrition and improve healthy 40.91% diet 9 18.18% Protect wild fish stocks 2 Increase jobs and livelihood opportunities 16.67% 6 20.83% Meet forecast increased demand in 5 seafood Reduced reliance on terrestrial animal 27.27% 3 protein Siting opportunities off shore, away from 28.57% 4 land 21.43% Investment, new business 3 28.57% Other 2 Table 1 – Drivers for Responsible Aquaculture Growth

Wales 12.50% 2 22.73% 5 18.18% 2 13.89% 5 12.50% 3 18.18% 2 14.29% 2 14.29% 2 14.29% 1

Scotland 18.75% 3 22.73% 5 36.36% 4 58.33% 21 58.33% 14 45.45% 5 42.86% 6 50.00% 7 42.86% 3

Northern Ireland 18.75% 3 13.64% 3 27.27% 3 11.11% 4 8.33% 2 9.09% 1 14.29% 2 14.29% 2 14.29% 1

Q3 UK aquaculture is projected to grow, what do you think is the most important consideration?

Question 3 demonstrated that a high proportion of respondents consider environmentally supportive and restorative aquaculture as the most important consideration for the growth of responsible aquaculture. Respondents also stated that the second most important consideration was the community that will be affected by the introduction of more aquaculture sites, potentially through the creation of jobs.

Other responses included one who thought that all these factors were equally important, whilst two commented that fish welfare was a specific aspect of environmentally supportive aquaculture that requires special attention. It may be important to consider the responses in relation to the positions and organisations of the respondents, or to test this result with specific groups of stakeholders.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Q4 Which of the following do you regard as being within the scope of the UK Aquaculture Sector? (Please tick all applicable and note any additions) All respondents thought that Shellfish farming, Aquaculture technologies and Marine Aquaculture/ Mariculture were within the scope of UK aquaculture.

Fish farming, aquaculture equipment, recirculated aquaculture systems and hatcheries were also selected by most survey respondents.

Terrestrial farming, wild fisheries and imported farmed seafood were selected the least number of times by respondents. Other responses included: • •

“Innovation in aquaculture through research, trials, commercial adoption, knowledge exchange etc” “We haven't included onshore aquaculture because we feel the environmental considerations are so significantly different as falling under different regulatory regime than that of marine aquaculture.”

Many responses to this question referenced how the UK aquaculture sector is heavily influenced by the industry, so much so that no action is taken against aquaculture sites where regulations are not adhered to.

Some respondents also made reference to how there are multiple UK salmon farm sites that are found to be poorly situated or overstocked but are still allowed to continue operating. One survey respondent suggested that the only way to rectify this issue is for other international organisations to lead by example, such as those situated in Norway.

Q5 Who do you consider as the most influential organisations working in the UK aquaculture sector?

Respondents from all four home nations agreed that companies and policy makers/regulators are the most influential type of organisation working in the UK aquaculture sector.

Furthermore, all nations respondents concurred that investors and NGOs are not as influential as companies and policy makers/regulators.

Answer Choices Northern Ireland

Companies 43.75% 7

Investors 6.25% 1

NGOs 6.25% 1

Policy/regulators 43.75% 7

Wales

36.36% 8

9.09% 2

9.09% 2

45.45% 10

Scotland

46.00% 23

14.00% 7

10.00% 5

30.00% 15

England

33.33% 8

4.17% 1

12.50% 3

50.00% 12

Table 3 - Responses for the most influential organisations working in the UK aquaculture sector

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Q6 What do you see as the biggest opportunities to the growth and expansion of responsible UK aquaculture? (Please state which country you are referring to) Many respondents alluded to the fact that if you can implement something in one of the nations, then it is likely that this can be implemented across the UK. The growth of both seaweed and bivalve species together was referred to numerous times as an area of opportunity.

Additionally, some commented that there should be no expansion of aquaculturein all UK nations until existing framework is made more sustainable.

In Northern Ireland, one expressed that Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) certification was needed, as well as an increased effort on the development of both domestic and export markets. In England, another respondent stated that a collaborative approach was needed to establish "hubs" or "clusters" of aquaculture services and expertise where multiple small ventures might be able to work in the same location. In Scotland, the opportunity to expand the industry by exploring offshore farming and increasing the number of closed or semi closed grow out systems at sea was identified as an opportunity for growth.

Q7 What do you see as the biggest challenges to the growth and expansion of UK aquaculture? Are the barriers country specific or UK wide?

Respondents indicated that climate change impacts are the biggest challenge to the growth and expansion of UK aquaculture nationwide.

In Scotland no respondents considered investors or market to be challenges to growth or expansion, however in England and Wales these were considered the number one challenge.

In Scotland Disease, Community Response and Responsible Growth were cited as the highest challenges.

In Northern Ireland Sustainable Aqua Feeds was stated as the biggest challenge (note: the low number of NI based respondents means this may not be fully representative of the NI view).

Additional responses to this question indicated that Brexit, regulatory challenges, climate change impacts, fish welfare, and cheap imports were highlighted as additional areas of concern facing UK aquaculture.

Challenges and barriers to England Scotland Wales the growth and expansion ofUK aquaculture 14.29% 38.10% 9.52% Potential pollution of surrounding water 5.56% 33.33% 5.56% Challenges to sustainable aqua feeds 5.58% 29.41% 11.76% Consumer perception of farmed seafood Disease 0% 57.89% 0% Lack of market 42.86% 0% 14.29% Lack of investors 42.86% 0% 14.29% Siting / planning 14.29% 28.57% 8.57% Community response 12.50% 56.25% 0% Responsible growth 0% 56.25% 0% Climate change impacts 5.88% 29.41% 0% Table 4 - Responses for the biggest challenges and barriers to UK aquaculture growth

Northern Ireland

UK wide

9.52%

28.57%

16.67%

38.89%

5.88%

47.06%

5.26% 14.29% 14.29% 14.29% 6.25% 6.25% 11.76%

36.84% 28.57% 28.57% 34.29% 25% 25% 52.94%

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Q8 How important is it to include responsible aquaculture as a future UK food system?

Approximately 76% of respondents to the survey held the view that it is ‘critical’ that responsible aquaculture is included as a future UK food system. The rest of the respondents agreed that responsible aquaculture was at least ‘important.’ Reasons for this level of importance included that the UK needs to not rely on terrestrial or imported seafood, as the impacts of climate change worsen. Therefore, an increased reliance on food sourced through UK aquaculture is going to become more and more critical. Some respondents said that aquaculture needs to be made more sustainable before it is included as a future UK food system.

Q9 How would you rate the aquaculture regulatory frameworks in terms of encouraging and ease of investing in aquaculture? (0 is too weak and 10 is strong enough) In England, most respondents scored the aquaculture regulatory frameworks mid-way between too weak and strong enough.

In Scotland, an equal number of respondents answered that the framework is too strong as answered that it is midway between too strong and too weak.

In Wales, most respondents said that the regulatory framework was too weak.

In Northern Ireland, an equal number of respondents held the view that the aquaculture regulatory frameworks were strong enough as somewhere in the middle.

Additional comments included that respondents were aware of anything that encourages investing in aquaculture, but that there is a lot of barriers in the form of permits, licenses and other documentation.

Q10 How would you rate the aquaculture regulatory frameworks in terms of environmental management? (0 is too weak and 10 is strong enough) Respondents from all 4 UK nations agreed that aquaculture regulatory frameworks in terms of environmental management in the UK is exactly in between too weak and strong enough.

In Scotland, they are currently in a period of regulatory review, and it was commented that they hoped any resulting framework will be beneficial for the environment. In addition, some thought that there was too much guidance and not enough laws enforcing responsible environmental management. In Wales, they are only in the early stages of developing regulations and framework and in England there is a lot of ambition, but a lack of cohesion and knowledge.

Examples of environmental regulatory framework being too weak include examples where the contamination of seabed’s are not reported and sea lice levels being under reported, which can result in the death of fish stocks. Respondents offered that the reason for the framework being too weak being that these aquaculture sites are not assessed by an independent body.

Additionally, regulatory bodies usually test small samples that do not provide an accurate overview of the environment surrounding aquaculture sites. Moreover, a lot of the time these samples are collected by the companies themselves.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Q11 What support are you aware of for the encouragement of UK aquaculture? Please include any relevant hyperlinks (grants, funding, regulations, industry led, local government etc.) and specify relevant country(s) or UK wide.

A full list of the grants, funds et al cited, with links where appropriate can be found in the table below.

Grant European Maritime & Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

UK Wide

Country

Description “Helps fishers to adopt sustainable fishing practices and coastal communities to diversify their economies, improving quality of life along European coasts” ec.europa.eu/oceans-andfisheries/funding/european-maritimeand-fisheries-fund-emff_en

Developing an Assurance Scheme for Shellfish and Human Health (DASSHH)

UK Wide

Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC)

Scotland

Fisheries and Seafood Funding, through DEFRA, known as FaSS,

England

“The DASSHH project was initiated in 2018. It aims to create an improved approach to determining shellfish water quality that fully meets consumer safety and regulation requirements. It is also looking at the variable water quality environment in which most UK shellfish aquaculture production takes place.”

To assist sustainable growth through connecting business and academics to support innovative research that can support commercial expansion. www.sustainableaquaculture.com/ The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme will provide financial support for projects in England that secure sustainable growth across the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors, and that protect and enhance the marine environment. www.gov.uk/guidance/fisheries- andseafood-scheme

SMART grants

England

DAERA

Northern Ireland

Help commercially viable innovations by SMEs reach market launch Has a technical team focused on providing grants to support Cross Border Aquaculture Initiatives with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) the agency with responsibility for developing the Irish marine fishing and aquaculture industries in the Republic of Ireland. www.daera-ni.gov.uk/

Table 5 - Support for UK Aquaculture, grants and descriptions

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Q12 Do you think the government(s), including local, provide policies to enable responsible aquaculture? (Specify to which country(s) you are referring 61% of respondents expressed that they did not think government provides policies to enable responsible aquaculture. Respondents suggested that there are policies aimed at promoting aquaculture, but whether or not these policies enable responsible aquaculture is another matter.

Additionally, policies are often not practical and do not provide information regarding how the policies are enforced, which means that they are ignored. It was also suggested that excessive paperwork and too much regulation impedes commercial adoption. Some indicated that growth and expansion of aquaculture sites is usually done with profit as the mainmotivation: •

“There is a huge difference between supporting the growth and expansion of UK aquaculture and the growth and expansion of RESPONSIBLE/SUSTAINABLE UK aquaculture. The former is well supported at the policy level and the latter is not.”

Q13 Do you think there should be more or less NGO activity focussed on UK aquaculture? If so, in what way and in which country(s) or UK wide?

68% of survey participants thought that there should be increased NGO activity in UK aquaculture, whilst 32% thought there should be less. Despite the majority of respondents opting to say that there should be more NGO activity involved with UK aquaculture, there were mixed opinions regarding whether NGO involvement in aquaculture is positive or negative.

One of the positives of NGO work on aquaculture is that they can use their influence to raise awareness with the public of the importance of UK aquaculture. In addition, influence helps NGOs to verify facts and make promote positive changes within the sector.

In contrast, some argued that most of the NGO activity that has happened within aquaculture has not been positive. Firstly, some respondents expressed how they felt that NGOs do not bring anything constructive to the discussion, due to their lack of subject knowledge. Instead, it was claimed in the survey that NGOs serve to disrupt only for a political purpose or ‘create noise.’ Secondly, the sector has NGOs working on similar topics and respondents felt a more collaborative approach between different NGOs could be more effective. Moreover, a pragmatic and constructive approach in conjunction with industry and regulators was referred to as being the best way for NGOs moving forward within aquaculture.

Figure 4 - Responses for more or less NGO involvement in UK aquaculture

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Q14 Do you think there should be more or less government/ local government activity focussed on UK aquaculture? If so, in what way and in which country(s)?

89% of survey participants thought that there should be more government activity in UK aquaculture.

The main reasons given for more government involvement in aquaculture, included benefits to the environment, public health, food security and regional jobs. Furthermore, the increased pressure that can be placed on polluters could potentially increase clean water use and limit other damaging marine activities.

In order to achieve more governmental involvement, some respondents recommended that there needed to be longer-term incentives for the promotion of emerging technology, such as offshore aquaculture and for joint restoration projects of oysters, for example.

Q15

Do you think the domestic market would support UK aquaculture development?

Figure 5 - Responses for domestic market support for UK aquaculture development

Q16 What are the key challenges of exporting aquaculture products from the UK? Hurdles caused by Brexit were cited by respondents as the principal challenge facing export of UK aquaculture, as UK organisations are now required to complete more permit paperwork and can be subject to additional inspections.

This was considered particularly difficult for the exportation of shellfish, as the additional regulations can increase the time it takes to transport the shellfish meaning they can lose freshness. One respondent also cited how Brexit and high Covid-19 rates have created a bad impression of products from the UK in general.

Seaweed exportation from the UK was the only product with positive feedback, as UKs waters are seen as higher quality than some other seaweed producers such as China.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Q17 Where do you think the best areas/ sites for responsible UK aquaculture expansion are and why? (Please state area and country(s)) Respondents suggest that the best areas for the expansion of UK aquaculture are difficult to identify, as there are a variety of considerations, relating to environmental, social, and economic factors. It was proposed that considering combining new aquaculture sites with already existing infrastructure could be the most responsible way of expanding existing aquaculture sites, such as siting mussel farms/ seaweed farms in places where need to boost fish stocks might be appropriate.

Others suggested aquaculture sites may need to be chosen based on water temperature. As such, one survey respondent offered that along the south coast (outside of MPAs/MCZs) might be the best option. It was also suggested that there should not be any expansion in salmon aquaculture until it is ensured that current sites are abiding by existing guidelines and regulations.

In addition, the option of creating more inland salmon farms in Scotland was raised as an area for responsible aquaculture expansion. As well, the role of recirculating systems was also proposed under siting.

Finally, it was noted that there is opportunity for offshore wind farms and seaweed farms to be developed together, which are already being developed in the EU. Q18 Where do you think would be inappropriate for responsible UK aquaculture expansion and why? (Please state area and country(s)) Some responses highlighted how important marine spatial planning is to ensure other industries and other species habitats are avoided. Additionally, locations where other already existing aquaculture sites are already environmental damage should be avoided, as adding another site would cause further harm. Others highlighted how different sites have different sensitivities, so need to have different mitigation in order to maintain their sustainability. Onerespondent did express how no aquaculture expansion should take place in coastal wetlandsor SSSIs. No specific areas were referred to when answering this question, instead the overall feeling was that if the site can be shown to be environmentally responsible, then there is no issue with the site’s location.

Q19 How do you think responsible aquaculture expansion could help local communities?

Most respondents to this question attested to how aquaculture expansion can create jobs in rural areas. Through this job creation aquaculture could boost the local economy, surrounding businesses and the provide community benefit. Some aquaculture companies have directly invested in the local communities through supporting local groups and in the provision of affordable housing.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Others countered that new aquaculture sites do not provide enough jobs to the local community to make a meaningful impact. Furthermore, the schemes intended to help the local community can be perceived as bribery for unwelcome developments.

Q20 What might be the threats to local communities where aquaculture expansion is planned?

The expansion of aquaculture sites can have a negative impact on local communities, due to pollution being released into water bodies. This can have a consequence on local communities, as they may use these same water bodies for leisure or commercial activities. Furthermore, polluting local bodies may actually decrease local stocks of wild fish, which will harmfully impact any already existing fishing businesses. In addition, the infrastructure that comes along with aquaculture sites can be harmful to local commercial activities that relyon the lack of industrial development (such as tourism). Finally, some have the opinion that aquaculture sites are unsightly.

2.2 Interviews There were 13 one-to-one interviews conducted. There remain outstanding suggestions for interviews where the team have been unable to secure an interview before writing this report.

These could be added or interviewed in follow up work.

Not all interviews as proposed could be arranged within the research window but could be included in further work.

The agreement with interviewees was to keep comments and input anonymous unless specifically approved.

The outcomes of the interviews have been included in this report throughout as appropriate i.e. anonymously. A common theme from those interviewed was that theywelcomed this piece of work and would very much like to see the results. They are keen to participate in supporting responsible development of UK Aquaculture. A full list of the organisations consulted as part of this study can be found in Annex C.

2.3 Literature review 2.3.1 Global Aquaculture Aquaculture has grown from producing 9% of the fish used for human consumption in 1980 to 50% today and is one of the world’s fastest growing food production sectors (University of Stirling, 2021).

This growth is significant economically as well as for the food and nutrition security of a growing global population. With many wild fish stocks being overexploited they cannot meet future seafood consumption levels as forecasted by FAO and others.

By 2030, total fish production (aquaculture and wild capture) is projected to grow to 204 million tonnes, an increase of 26 million tonnes (15%) from 2018, with the difference coming from aquaculture. Total aquaculture production represents 109 million tonnes of this total, some 53% (FAO, 2020).

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Aquaculture also has a role in providing nutrient and protein-rich food as a more sustainable substitute for terrestrial sources of animal protein (if appropriately managed), with a unique and valuable macro- and micro-nutrition profile for human development and diets (FAO, 2020).

Aquaculture represents a broad number of species, production types, and global coverage, which gives it the potential to be harnessed to support a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including, but not limited to, direct support of those identified below:

Figure 6 - UN Sustainable Development Goals relevant to UK aquaculture

This growing importance of aquaculture as a critical food system that is planet and people appropriate is building in global dialogues at all levels, from the UN Food Systems Summit who acknowledge that future food systems that exclude ‘aquatic foods’ would be incomplete, to the Blue Food Assessment that seeks to demonstrate how and where they must play a significant role in the future food portfolio. The High Level Panel for the Ocean, which includes 14 Heads of State – and whom US President Joe Biden has recently joined - see aquaculture as an important part of ocean conservation and nutrition. Shakuntala Thilstead, 2021 winner of the World Food Prize, exalts the critical importance of seafood nutrition, including aquaculture, to nourish nations.

Put in place policies and management frameworks to minimise the environmental impacts of aquaculture, including inefficiencies in the feed supply chain, and enable the acceleration of fed and non-fed aquaculture production that fits local environmental, governance and economic priorities.

Transformations for a Sustainable Ocean Economy A Vision for Protection, Production and Prosperity – The High Level Panel for a sustainable Ocean Economy

2.3.2 Aquaculture in the UK In 2018, the total UK aquaculture production was 189,921 tonnes (live weight). This had a first sale value of just over £962 million. According to MMO UK vessels landed 698,000 tonnes of wild sea fish into the UK and abroad with a value of £989 million. There were 348 fish processing sites in the UK in 2020. Fish processing sites accounted for 17,988 full-time Page 16

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture equivalent jobs. The fish processing industry is concentrated in the Humber and the Grampians.

Most of the sites and employment associated with fish processing relate to wild fish stocks, but some will be aquaculture focused.

Aquaculture is a very varied industry with nearly 1,700 production sites across the four individual nations that make up the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). The industry employed almost 3,300 people in 2017. There are many official and independent players active within - administrators, regulators, supporters, and other interested parties.

(Seafish).

Whilst the Scottish and UK governments have ‘ambitions for growth in this key food production sector’ (University of Stirling, 2021), outside of Scotland, UK aquaculture output has been stagnant or declining since the mid-2000s, as demonstrated in Figure 8 below.

Figure 7 - Current and articulated industry targets for UK production of aquaculture products (UK GOScience, 2017)

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture A narrow range of species are commercially produced in the UK aquaculture sector. The species produced are dominated by Atlantic salmon (Scotland) and blue mussels, and rainbow trout for freshwater production which makes up a significantly lower portion of the UK’s aquaculture production (UK GO-Science, 2017). The illustration below in Figure 9 shows the location, type of aquaculture, and estimated employment contributions of aquaculture in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (2016).

Atlantic salmon farmed on Scotland’s west coast dominates UK aquaculture. This accounts for 82% of all UK aquaculture production (2018). Scotland also produces significant amountsof farmed shellfish, particularly from Shetland. In Scotland, 5 companies are said to be responsible for 93% of the Scottish salmon industry. MOWI is the largest producer of farmed Atlantic salmon in the world. MOWI is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and its shares also trade on the US OTC market. Scottish Sea Farms Owned by SalMar and the Leroy Seafood Group ASA, both Norwegian seafood companies listed in Norway. In 2019, the Scottish Salmon Company was bought by the Faroese firm Bakkafrost. Bakkafrost is worth more than the Faroe Islands’ GDP, its biggest shareholder is the Norwegian Pension Fund Folketrygdfonet. Cooke Aquaculture Cooke Aquaculture is a Canadian business owned by the Cooke family, with subsidiaries listed in Uruguay, the US and Chile. Loch Duart Loch Duart refers to itself as a ‘local company’, however in 2020 it was acquired by a US investment firm.

Aquaculture elsewhere in the UK is very different to Scotland. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland place emphasis on shellfish, particularly mussels and oysters, and rainbow trout production. Aquaculture businesses are typically small with most employing less than 5 people, with some exceptions.

Figure 2 - Distribution of aquaculture activity and estimated contribution to employment across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (Hambrey and Evans, 2016)

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

Figure 10 - Active aquaculture finfish sites November 2019 (showing Scottish Marine Regions) (Marine Scotland, 2021).

Note: Land based seawater tank facilities, used for research and development purposes, have been omitted.

Figure 11 - Active aquaculture shellfish sites November 2019. (showing Scottish Marine Regions). (Marine Scotland, 2021).

Note: Land based seawater tank facilities, used for research and development purposes, have been omitted.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

Table 7 - Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) figures for employment and production in aquaculture in 2016 (Cefas, pers. comm., 2019). University of the Highland and Islands, 2019

The Scottish salmon industry, with Scottish Government support, has plans to increase production volumes. The strategy forecasts by 2030 an increase in salmon production to around 350,000 tonnes per annum and, for shellfish, an increase to 21,000 tonnes. It also forecasts a rise in jobs to around 18,000 by 2030.

Market The UK seafood market is dominated by imports (43%) and capture fisheries (40%), with aquaculture only making up 17% of the domestic supply according to a 2016 study (Jennings et al., 2016; UK GO-Science, 2017). Across the ten-year period 2008-2018, exports increased by 18%, with imports unchanged (OECD, 2021).

The main export markets for UK salmon are the USA, France, and China. Due to Brexit, regulations and access to the European market have significantly changed for UK aquaculture exports, with changes necessary to meet trade regulations (Cefas, 2021).

Most of the UK’s shellfish production is sold to northern mainland Europe, where depuration facilities are the next stage in the chain of custody (Avdelas et al., 2020). However, export of UK shellfish have been significantly affected by Brexit and the enforcement of EU regulations due to the rating of the UK’s water quality across production sites. For many producers, the introduction of these restrictions was a sudden regulatory change that contrasted with messaging from the Government leading up to 1 January 2021 regulation, meaning that preparations across the supply chain could not be made.

Most waters in the UK are rated at grade ‘B’ therefore shellfish must be depurated or tested before exporting to the EU (Dickins, 2021). There are insufficient purification tanks and facilities available to handle the increased volumes and these processes delay exports, with further industry concerns that purified shellfish are harder to transport due to increased perishability (Parkinson, 2021). Initially, the Government indicated that these restrictions could end by 21 April 2021 anticipating a rule change by Brussels, however the European Commission has stated that the current restrictions would remain in place indefinitely (Parkinson, 2021). This situation currently presents a significant risk to the UK’s shellfish sector, including mussels which are considered one of the lowest impact animal protein food systems and as such a potentially important part of a climate appropriate food portfolio.

Trout is the third most farmed seafood species in the UK, with around 300 trout farms across the UK (MCS UK, 2021). Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), a fish native to North Page 20

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture America but easily introduced due to its adaptability across climates and to faming systems, is the most commonly produced trout species in the UK with around 17,000 tonnes produced each year primarily in Scotland and England (British Trout Association, 2021). Trout farming has declined over the past five years, outcompeted by salmon farming, and was expected to account for 2.9% of industry revenue in 2020-21 (Neve, 2021). Trout may be produced for food or to stock recreation fishing sites.

Production systems Aquaculture production in the UK remains focused on open water bodies, but there are also a limited number of land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Benefits of such systems include the ability to limit impacts on the marine environment from aquaculture production and deliver fish close to markets (UK GO-Science, 2017).

The Scottish salmon industry, with Scottish Government support, has plans to increase production volumes. Plans for Scotland to reach their 2030 targets include modest expansion at their nearshore sites, and considerable expansion at existing and new exposed sites (UK GOScience, 2017). Recently (October 2021) the first application was made for a semi- closed farm and significant invested is promised in to close on land recirculating systems. A semiclosed system allows most wastes to be captured and processed and should make fish escapes and lice transmission completely controllable. They have many of the benefits of RAS systems, but lower costs.

Significant innovation and investment would be required before land-based systems can compete in some sectors, particularly with the popular salmon species, although Scotland has increasingly used RAS as a method for salmon smolt production (UK GO-Science, 2017), where smolt are a small part of the final production cost, many RAS initiatives have failed due to the high costs and long lead times for production (Hambrey and Evans, 2016).

For rainbow trout production, most eggs for production are imported from specialised sites found within Northern Ireland, Denmark, USA, Norway, and the Isle of Man (Seafish,2021a).

Common production systems include flow-through systems using diverted natural water bodies with a current, floating net-pens, with recent efforts also including the development of RAS (Seafish, 2021a).

A number of production methods are available for the faming of shellfish which vary significantly and have different demands and impacts than finfish farming, presenting a lowimpact and sustainable industry. Methods include cultivation on ropes for mussels and scallops, which can also be cultivated on lines and in small, suspended net enclosures known as lanterns, and bags for oysters on the shore or from trestles (Nature Scot, 2021). Offshore Shellfish, a Dorset-based mussel farm, has been developing its Lyme Bay offshore mussel farm to expand into the largest in the UK, with plans to cover 15sq km and produced over 10,000 tonnes of mussels (Turns, 2020). The article notes that initially there were objection tothe planned site from the local fishing community, however a ‘spillover’ effect has ‘increasedbiodiversity and boosted marine life and fish stocks’, with fishers now actively fishing the waters nearby (Turns, 2020).

Due to the filtering nature of bivalve species, shellfish operations commonly require no external feeding and can provide ecosystem benefits, in addition to carbon capture through their shell growth and habitat creation on the seabed beneath farm structures (Fletcher, 2020).

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture 2.3.2.1 Covid-19 and UK Aquaculture The Covid-19 pandemic has had serious impacts on the industry with financial support provided by the government to support companies who faced a steep drop-off in demand due to the closure of the hospitality industry and supply chain issues. However, the pandemic has also highlighted the importance of national food security which has increased interest in building resilience in the UK’s food systems. One research collaborative focused on this is ‘RiseUP’, which is seeking to bring together the expertise of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), the University of Manchester and Seafish to ‘explore pathways to increase resilience at the system and business levels and provide policy-relevant recommendations and stakeholder-specific advice to address challenges’ over a project scheduled to run from July 2020 to January 2022 (SAMS, 2020).

2.3.2.2 Scotland Finfish farming is recognised as an important industry for Scotland, representing Scotland’s and the UK’s top food export. Regionally, finfish farming contributes significantly to the economy and on a more local scale it provides vital employment and cashflows into remote locations. Salmon farming is reported to have contributed a combined turnover of £1 billion, and directly employed 2,000 people. Salmon is the UK’s biggest food export.

Scottish production is dominated by marine production of Atlantic salmon, producing nearly all of the UK’s volume of the species. Additionally, Scotland produces a third of the UK’s mussels (UK GO-Science, 2017). In 2021, the Scottish Government announced an independent review of aquaculture to review how fish farms are regulated, seeking to make Scottish aquaculture legislation the most effective and transparent in the world throughreforming and streamlining their current system (Scottish Government, 2021; Holmyard, 2021). This review will highlight improvements that can be made to the environmental, economic and community aspects of aquaculture legislation and forms part of the nation’s plans for green recovery and transition to net zero (Holmyard, 2021). The timeline for the review is noted below (online Phase Three reads Summer 2021, but it is believed to be an error).

Details of the appointment and terms of references of the external review of the regulatory process involved in fish farming announced by the Scottish Government (Marine Scotland Directorate, 2021).

Illustrative phasing of the work Phase one [framing the issues] Establishment - August • SG sets remit, principles and criteria; • SG appoints initial reviewer.

•

Evidence gathering - November/December: • SG evidence paper on initiatives to-date • initial stakeholder engagement • identification of issues • recommendations on further work required

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Phase two Efficiency and effectiveness (including research and analysis) - summer 2022: • consultancy (i) on international comparators • consultancy (ii) on the efficiency of the system • institutional engagement; • recommendations for change within the current framework.

Phase three Roles and responsibilities - late summer 2022: • consultancy (iii) on reform options • recommendations on options for fundamental reform • Public consultation etc. thereafter.

Finfish farming in Scotland requires a lease from the Crown Estate Scotland, who ‘manages property – including buildings, land, coastline and seabed – on behalf of the Scottish people’ which, according to the Scottish Crown Estate Act 2019, must be managed in a way likely to contribute to the ‘promotion of improvement of economic development, regeneration, social wellbeing and environmental wellbeing’ (Crown Estate Scotland, 2021). However, they do not operate as a regulator or have a statutory role.

Planning consent is issued by the local authority, marine licences issued by Marine Scotland and with finfish sites also require a licence from SEPA (Crown Estate Scotland, 2021). The Crown Estate Scotland finfish profile recognises local opportunities from the development of new technology and practices to support sea lice control, changes to the regulatory structure to enable improvement performance, accountability and social acceptance of fish farming, and, maximisation of local supply chain opportunities. Threats identified include the lack of progress on interactions with wild Atlantic salmon, biological challenges resulting from rising sea temperatures, and decrease demand for Scottish salmon based on international growth in land-based aquaculture systems (Crown Estate Scotland, 2021). Sea lice also present a significant challenge to the salmon industry, however significant research and investment has been focused on this issue and reducing the numbers of sea lice (Holland, 2019).

The aquaculture industry in Scotland has also be noted as contributing to the ‘long-term viability of many communities’ according to a report commission by Marine Scotland (Fish Farming Expert, 2021). These socio-economic community benefits from the sector are associated with the provision of ‘year-round, well-paid jobs’ and supporting ‘economicgrowth in rural, coastal and island areas’ (Fish Farming Expert, 2021). In addition to these localised benefits, production has wider supply-chain benefits due to demand for distribution, feed, processing and export.

Seaweed farming has received increased interest over recent years, with 2020 marking a sector change from mainly ‘experimental/pilot sized farms’ to new farms expecting to sell toa range of markets through 2021 (Crown Estate Scotland, 2021a). In addition to farms, a seafood processing sector is also being established and the growth in seaweed farming is expected to offer opportunities to coastal communities if appropriately managed.

Currently, the costs of seaweed farming are significantly higher than for wild harvesting, which must then be reflected in the processing for the product to maximise value. Collaborative approaches and integration with current operations is being explored, such as a ‘potential diversification tool for fishers’ and ‘co-locating seaweed cultivation with shellfish aquaculture’ (Crown Estate Scotland, 2021a).

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Aquaculture-based community-scale initiatives include kelp crofting in The Isle of Skye, supported by Inspiring Scotland with the environmental start-up Kelp Crofting Ltd. The business grows and supplies fresh kelp which can be used for ‘biodegradable packing and highly nutritious food and health supplements’ with CO2 sequestered in the seaweed during growth and wider marine benefits provided in addition to the employment opportunities and local economy gains (Scottish Government, 2021).

In November 2021 the UK government pledged £407,000 to fund a new Seaweed Academy – the UK’s first dedicated seaweed industry facility, offering advice to start-ups, trainingworkers and sharing the latest research to help businesses develop. Based at SAMS, near Oban, the academy aims to catalyse growth of an industry that it is thought could play a crucial role in the UK’s net zero. It will provide an innovative service to the sector, from seeded line through to research and practical skills at SAMS’ existing seaweed farm sites. Already used extensively in food ingredients, agriculture, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, seaweed farming has a low carbon footprint, using no fresh water and with minimal land- based infrastructure.

SAMS director, Prof Nick Owens, said: “Using our own seaweed farms and the most up to date research, we have been laying foundations for a thriving UK seaweed farming industry. We are excited to now move into the next phase of training, education and business development, which will see our ambitions realised.

“SAMS works internationally on seaweed research and we are well placed to deliver the most up-to-date advice for start-ups and existing farmers who wish to develop their business.

“We are grateful to the UK Government for its investment in this climate-friendly industry that will not only support the regional economy of the Highlands and Islands, but will show others an example of the best of the blue economy.” (Paterson, 2021).

The Seaweed Academy will be operated by SAMS, in partnership with SAMS Enterprise and Argyll College, a fellow academic partner within the University of the Highlands and Islands, and will deliver immediate economic benefit to Argyll and Bute. It also aims to stimulate the growth of UK seaweed aquaculture, exploring high-value markets, and using the latest research to increase the competitiveness of UK products globally.

SAMS will also promote seaweed production as a means of bioremediation, including the resulting carbon sequestration, therefore mitigating the impacts of climate change.

SAMS Professor Michele Stanley specialises in seaweed research and spoke at a COP26 side event on seaweed. She said: “Seaweed is already widely used in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and agriculture industries and has potential as a biofuel.

“But the benefits of seaweed farming go beyond natural products; it increases and restores biodiversity by providing habitats for marine creatures and can help to mitigate climate change through carbon capture and methane emission reduction.

“There is also a growing commercial demand for higher value seaweed-derived products, such as hydrocolloids and for food ingredients and medical treatment and high-bacto agar used as a laboratory medium for Covid-19 testing.” (Paterson, 2021).

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture To help fully embed the new industry at a community level, SAMS’ Ocean Explorer Centre (OEC) will develop STEM educational outreach materials to raise awareness of seaweed farming, climate change and the importance of net zero, from primary storytelling to workshops for Higher/A-level curricula, ensuring a holistic approach from primary to PhD level and beyond. (The Fish Site, November 2021) Aquaculture 2030 The Aquaculture 2030 Strategy identifies key actions required to double the economic contribution of the Scottish salmon industry from £1.8 billion in 2016, to £3.6 billion by 2030. It is estimated this will generate over 9,000 new jobs in the sector.

The strategy, developed after industry-wide consultation, sets out key recommendations for action by both the industry itself and government.

An Industry Leadership Group has now been established to oversee the delivery of Aquaculture 2030.

Salmon Scotland, 2021

2.3.2.3 England England possesses the third longest coastline in Europe, following Scotland and Greece, which could present great opportunity for aquaculture production whilst the nation only currently contributes 4% towards total UK output of farmed seafood production (Dorset Coast Forum, 2020).

The Seafood 2040 Strategic Framework’s English Aquaculture Strategy seeks to develop the sector in England to greater fulfil its potential, including recommendations on strategy, mapping best practices, better understanding nutritional benefits, environmental performance, and socio-economic impacts, as well as marketing, trade and business growth recommendations (Cullen, 2021).

The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme was established in 2021 for English businesses and vessels in the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors to provide ‘financial support for projects […] that protect and enhance the marine environment’, supported by the Marine Management Organisation (UK MMO, 2021).

The English sector is primarily focused on intertidal bays, with no marine finfish farms in England or Wales. Expansion for suspended mussel production in England has been proposed, and technology and investment may make ‘offshore fish farming in England and Wales feasible in the future’ (UK GO-Science, 2017).

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Challenges for the aquaculture industry in England, where 1,080 are employed directly in the sector, include appropriate employment. Seafish commissioned a study on ‘skills, recruitment and retention in England’s seafood industry’, released in 2021. Characteristics of aquaculture employment include ‘very high science, skills, high animal care skills, business management, marketing, customer relations’, with surveyed employers considering ‘75% of permanentstaff as highly skilled or skilled’ (Pye Tait Consulting, 2021). Reasons for skills gaps given by surveyed employers included ‘costs of external training are too high and that there is insufficient external training available locally’ (Pye Tait Consulting, 2021). Recruitment across all sectors within the seafood industry is primarily through ‘word of mouth’, which is likely to be an outcome of the ‘relatively low numbers of people required and partly a result of the high degree of localisation’ (Pye Tait Consulting, 2021). Staff retention has not been recognised as a significant issue for the industry.

Dorset and East Devon have a mariculture strategy for 2020 – 2025, an industry-led effort in the region, supporting UK food security, and socio-economic benefits to local coastal communities (Dorset Coast Forum, 2020).

To have an industry-leading, highly productive aquaculture sector, driven by sustainable production practices and continuous innovation. A sector that delivers a resilient seafood supply chain, contributes to UK food security and brings substantial socio-economic benefits to coastal communities across Dorset.

The sector is farming a variety of species regionally include ‘trout, arctic char, seaweeds, oysters, clams, mussels, lumpfish’ amongst others (Fletcher, 2021). Trials are also ongoing in the region for supporting the industry, such as successful trials of seaweed production, or the use of 5G and AI to monitor farm and environmental conditions (Fletcher, 2021). Development for local initiatives and innovation include the Aquaculture Innovation Centre and Aquaculture Parks. Weaknesses identified for the sector include low domestic demand, licensing and regulatory complexity, access to finance, disease, water quality, siting competition and issues, and stakeholder opposition, amongst other concerns. Development of RAS operations are an interest, with agricultural buildings available for refitting.

2.3.2.4 Wales The Welsh government identify the coastal and marine environment as being important to the economy of Wales, with activities in the marine environment providing ‘social and economic benefits to Welsh coastal communities’ (Cefas, 2021a).

Output in Wales is primarily driven by Menai mussel, exports of which have been affected by the live bivalve mollusc ban in Europe (Fletcher, 2021). Regionally, North Wales’ mussel fisheries have dominated production over the part twenty years, with a more recent increase in innovation within the sector in a small number of businesses (Fletcher, 2021). A 2016 Seafish report indicated that scallop farming is a potential opportunity for South Wales, due to the local water temperatures being optimum for king scallop production.

An assessment of the potential for aquaculture development in Wales indicated that a variety of future opportunities for a variety of aquaculture types may exist (the report notes that the Page 26

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture conclusions within the assessment are heavily caveated) (UK GO-Science, 2017). However, marine aquaculture currently represents a small and underexploited role within the region.

In 2013, the Welsh government set a target to double finfish and shellfish output by 2020, which it has not yet achieved. Whilst the nation is still reportedly reaching for this target, production fell below the initial baselines set and there is no government-level strategic support for the sector to achieve the goal (Fletcher, 2021).

In response to the slow government action, an industry-led association was set up, ‘Aquaculture Industry Wales’ (AIW), a membership consortium. AIW is seeking to collectively develop aquaculture in Wales to benefit the economy and local communities, including improvements in public and political perceptions of the sector. According to AIW Development Lead Jon Parker, Welsh aquaculture statistics are often dated by a year or more,with estimated figures based on public sources and information from AIW members in use (Fletcher, 2021). Growing aquaculture in Wales will also support the development of high value jobs throughout the supply chain and research and development, including within a region in Wales previously recognised as being one of the most deprived in Europe (Fletcher,2021). AIW is supported by Seafish and Fishmongers’ Company.

Recent efforts to unlock constraints in the sector include: production of the Welsh Aquaculture Regulatory Toolbox, projects with Bangor and Swansea universities to ‘support sustainable growth and innovation in the industry’, the AQUA Wales project which has ‘components looking at resistance to pathogens and how to better detect invasive species in Wales’, and research into ‘novel hatchery systems to improve seed supply’ (Welsh Government, 2020).

2.3.2.5 Northern Ireland Northern Ireland has the smallest aquaculture sector of the four UK countries, both by production volumes and value, which is reflected in the smaller body of research and reporting focused on the region.

There are approximately 28 aquaculture producers in Northern Ireland, with the sector contributing around £11 million annually (Fish Farmer Magazine, 2021). For Northern Ireland, the industry has been dominated by marine shellfish production (UK GO-Science), with suitability due to the region’s ‘temperature regime and suitable sites for the production of shellfish species’, particularly Pacific oysters, Mussels, and Native oysters (Fox et al., 2019).

There are currently 46 farms licensed for shellfish cultivation, which directly employs 91 fulltime and 78 part-time employees according to DAERA data (2018), but these are typically in small communities and remote areas and as such their ‘value’ may be great.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Fisheries Minister Edwin Poots has announced a £360,000 emergency support package for Northern Ireland's aquaculture sector.

The package aims to help businesses that have experienced a significant drop in sales as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The aquaculture sector is considered a small but valuable niche market in Northern Ireland, employing around 131 people and supporting rural communities.

May 2020

These sites are focused around the region’s five sea loughs, with production volumes in 2016 for Northern Ireland’s shellfish at 3,438 tonnes, worth £4.3 million (Fox et al., 2019). Due to its politically disputed status between Ireland and Northern Ireland, Lough Foyle is not included in this data and oyster trestles are operated without licensing with neither nation having the authority to regulate operations.

Major constraints for the Northern Irish shellfish industry include ‘seed, site availability, water quality, pathogens and consumer perception’, which contribute towards Northern Ireland not reaching the aquaculture growth rates achieved worldwide and realising thepotential of the sector locally (Fox et al., 2019). Disease, recognised as the single biggest risk to the ‘maintenance and growth of aquaculture production’, is not a currently a significant constraint as Northern Ireland is recognised as having ‘high health status and it is declared free of a number of shellfish diseases’, although some notifiable diseases are present in various loughs with the potential to affect local industry through mortality and movement restrictions (Fox et al., 2019).

A Seafish report recognised that there is potential for growth in Northern Ireland’s salmon farming sector, although this may be threatened by climate change affecting the ‘suitability of the rearing environment’, as well as the intense competition within the salmon farming sector (Hambrey and Evans, 2016). Additionally, local impacts of aquaculture sites have damaged the perception of the industry, such as flooding damage leading to the escape of an estimated 387,000 rainbow trout into the River Strule (Macauley, 2018), which may interfere with local species.

2.3.2.5.1 Development of the CLAMS concept in the Island of Ireland Co-ordinated Local Area Management Systems (CLAMS) are area-based management systems for all types of aquaculture producers that share the same body of water and space.

CLAMS originated over 20 years ago as an area management system for aquaculture in Ireland and in Northern Ireland. Whilst not a major producer in comparison to other regions, Irish aquaculture has to meet very stringent environmental, regulatory and marine spatial planning requirements and in doing so demonstrate best international practice and compliance. It is a recognized process for building resilience, community integration and demonstrating transparency among stakeholders within the context of marine spatial planning.

It is community led, a grassroots/bottom-up approach led by producers in their communities.

It is a non-regulatory but has sufficient formality, through a structured set-up that establishes collective responsibilities that result in both preventative and curative action. A community Page 28

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture based and collective approach to area management leads to improved dialogue, information sharing, cooperation and collective decision making.

The Irish state Seafood Development Agency, BIM continues to invest in CLAMS with a central CLAMS Executive and regional supports. These CLAMS are an integral part of the strategic plan for Irish Aquaculture. The two CLAMS in Northern Ireland are currently in active and in need of funding.

2.3.3 Trends in UK Aquaculture Whilst aquaculture in Scotland has increased volumes over recent years, the rest of the UK production volumes have stagnated or fallen. Social acceptance and energy costs have been identified as important drivers for aquaculture development in the UK over the next 50 years (UK GO-Science, 2017).

Seafish estimates that by 2030, 62% of seafood eaten in the UK will be products from aquaculture (USDA, 2021). Per capita the UK population ate half the amount of seafood advised by health professionals in 2018 (Seafish, 2020). Despite this decline, growth in consumption has also been identified for parts of the seafood industry, including for chilled seafood, farmed seafood, and seafood from ‘quality focused retailers’ (Seafish, 2020), showing a changing perception and consumer demand for seafood in the UK. Although seafood sales have over time declined they showed an 11% increase in 2020. However, most of the seafood consumed is imported. The top five species consumed remain salmon, cod, haddock, warm water prawns and tuna.

Salmon is likely to continue to dominate UK aquaculture production into the future, especially if rapid progress can be made to deal with the lice issue (UK GO-Science, 2017). This is due to salmon being a very easy fish to cultivate, with big eggs, robust physiology, excellent feed conversion, and few bones which leads to wider consumer appeal (UK GO- Science, 2017).

There has been a declining trend in mussels production in the UK (excluding Scotland), with a decrease of 61% across the period 2008-2016, however recent development of mussel farms should contribute to growth in volumes (Avdelas et al., 2020).

The development of shellfish in the UK may be vulnerable to the need for domestic demand in the UK to grow or to find new export markets, with the current main export markets for UK aquaculture products facing increased barriers due to UK-EU regulations. These limitations can also be countered by improvements in UK water quality for high production density areas and for investment in UK-based shellfish depuration plants (Avdelas et al., 2020).

Offshore production technology improvements can increase the availability of space for expansion, and floating closed-containment inshore systems are in development. These inshore systems allow for most wastes to be captured and processed, and should make escapes and lice transmission controllable, offering many of the benefits of RAS at lower cost(UK GOScience, 2017). Successful development and application of these technologies should eliminate space as a limiting factor for growing salmon production, as well as many of the negative environmental and societal impacts.

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The Faroese company that owns one of Scotland's largest fish farm firms has pledged more than £700m investment for a major shift in the way salmon is produced.

Bakkafrost's five-year plan for The Scottish Salmon Company is intended to raise production by 40%, without acquiring new licences.

Its site at Applecross in Wester Ross will be expanded at a cost of £49m.

There will also be a new large onshore production site.

These will use recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), with renewable energy and recycling of waste.

The change will see salmon smolts grown for a longer period in tanks and transferred to seawater at a later stage of their growth, when they weigh around 500g (18oz).

September 2021

2.3.4 Challenges for the UK aquaculture industry Whilst there are potential economic, livelihood and food security benefits from UK-produced aquaculture, there are also negative impacts associated with the industry and constraints on the sector’s development.

Such impacts include effects on ecosystem health, including loss of habitats due to siting or spread of pathogens to the natural environment, which have been briefly covered throughout previous sections, or regulatory issues also touched upon - in each nation’s profiles.

Climate change: A driver for change Climate change is expected to be a primary driver for change in the UK aquaculture industry over the next 50 years. The impacts will be multifaceted and have been extensively reviewed, with potential effects resulting from ocean acidification, disease and harmful algae species, extreme weather, and temperature (UK GO-Science, 2017).

Projects seeking to understand the effects of climate change on aquaculture include ROSA (Risks and Opportunities for Sustainable Aquaculture), a collaborative of academic institutions co-funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, which notes possible results of climate change preparation including changes to ‘species farmed and associated culture practice’ (UKRI, 2021).

The climate change impacts presented within research and modelling reports may provide opportunities as well as threats. For example, sea surface temperature rises can lead to the ability to cultivate new species for UK aquaculture, such as sea bass in southern UK waters, or selective breeding to allow for adaptations to current stocks (GO-Science, 2017). Ocean acidification is likely to severely impact shellfish to variable extents across the life cycle of each species, with full impacts currently not fully understood. Extreme weather patterns, such as storms and excessive rain, can lead to damage to aquaculture infrastructure and risks escape events of farmed fish into natural environments. The effects of climate change on the occurrences of disease and harmful algae blooms and how this may relate to aquaculture production are not yet fully understood but are considered to pose risks to the sector.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

Table 8 - The potential effects of climate change on UK aquaculture sectors - Based on the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership report card on aquaculture (MCCIP 2012) and Callaway et al. (2012), with interpretation of impacts by the authors

Conversely aquaculture is considered an important food system in the fight to mitigate climate change given its relative low footprint and carbon emissions compared to terrestrially produced animal proteins. Its adaptability and high nutrient content mean it is being hailed as a critical component of a future food portfolio. Combining these low impact systems with producing food at local levels means farmed seafood could have an important role in addressing climate change impacts of food production and shifting to more appropriate food systems.

While farmed species emissions and footprint varies the global emissions from aquaculture are lower than livestock because (a) there is a greater amount of livestock production (in2010 fish and shellfish accounted for 6% of global protein intake, compared to 18% of protein from meat and (b) overall livestock has a higher emissions intensity than aquaculture (MacLeod et al., 2021).

Bivalves and molluscs have the lowest impact but yield little protein per animal. Seaweed can play a huge role in fighting climate change by absorbing carbon emissions, regenerating marine ecosystems, creating biofuel and renewable plastics as well as generating marine protein.

Global seaweed production has doubled and continues to grow at around 6% pa with an estimated value of $59.61 billion in 2019 as interest in seaweed as a food source, carbon sink option and renewable product from consumers, farmers, researchers, and business leaders grows.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Given concerns about the environmental impact of eating meat, seaweed—which itself is a source of protein—could be an eco-friendly and nutrient packed food source in the coming years. Ronald Osinga of the Wageningen University in the Netherlands found that growing “sea-vegetable” farms totalling 180,000 square kilometres—roughly the size of Washington State (USA)—could provide enough protein for the entire world.

Godin, 2020

2.3.4.1 Examples of public perception and organisational opposition Groups and individuals that support the increased regulation or reduction of salmon farming focus on a number of issues including the expansion of open-net salmon farming in Scotland, pollution, and wild salmon impacts (Macaskill, 2021). These groups and individuals have been able to attract media attention and have engaged high profile celebrities such as Kate Winslet. Some highly committed anti salmon farming activists continue to act.

Organisations such as Salmon and Trout Conservation UK cite a 70% decline of wild salmon and sea trout in Scotland’s rivers over the past two decades, associating industrial salmon farming as ‘probably the most impactful’ (Salmon and Trout Conservation UK, 2021).

There can also be significant opposition to development applications from non-local stakeholder groups that are committed to opposing aquaculture through the planning system (UK GO-Science, 2017).

The UK government’s Foresight Future of the Sea project in 2017 noted that a large population of the UK were born before the extensive development of aquaculture in the UK, but by 2060 most of the population will have grown up with aquaculture. Accordingly, a shiftin public perception is being noticed with acceptance of aquaculture expected to continue. If this acceptance could be combined with awareness of aquaculture’s relatively low carbon footprint and high nutrient content that acceptance may grow faster as populations become more aware of climate change mitigation and nutrition security needs.

In May 2020 Fidra, a Scottish based NGO with a project is to highlight the environmental concerns surrounding salmon farming in Scotland ran a consumer survey. While this is only one survey, anecdotal evidence and other broader research supports these principal findings.

The main findings are summarised from the report as below: 1. Price and freshness were the most important factors in choosing to buyScottish salmon.

2. When asked directly if they would be happy to pay more for salmon produced sustainably, 80% of survey respondents answered yes or maybe.

3. When asked how much Scottish salmon on sale in the UK is farmed, only 5%answered correctly that it is all farmed.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture 4. The majority of respondents, 64%, would like to see more information on theproduct labels about the salmon.

5. Most, 86%, of participants would like to know the name of the farm the salmon was sourced from. Of these, 40% expressed it would be especiallyinteresting if they could easily find further information about the farm, forexample online.

Figure 12 – CO2e emissions of protein sources (Oceana, 2021; Poore and Nemecek, 2018)

2.3.4.2 Energy and other Input Costs Energy costs can have a major impact on the development of aquaculture. Rising energy costs can upset the economic feasibility of energy intensive aquaculture operations, with falling costs on the other hand increasing the opportunity and investment return. Energy costs are highly linked to feed ingredients, therefore non-feed species or low-intervention operations are at less risk from energy cost fluctuations than operations with high feed requirements (UK GOScience, 2017). Additionally, RAS systems are highly energy dependent, so their economic feasibility is reliant on lower and stable energy costs.

The marine ingredients within aquaculture feed pose a constraint to the future development of the global aquaculture industry due to the increasing price and finite availability of wild marine ingredients which are primarily sourced from wild stocks of forage fish. There has been increasing research and investment into reducing the marine content of aquaculture feeds with substitution for other ingredients such as terrestrial protein or crops, algae, and insects amongst the alternatives. Mainstreaming appropriate alternatives is necessary in order to meet the increased demand for feed in a responsible way.

However, a total substitute has not yet been successfully implemented, with challenges due to the micro and macro-nutritional needs of feed aquaculture. With aquaculture feeds representing up to 50-60% of operating costs for finfish production, increases in costs pose a threat to economic feasibility (UK GO-Science, 2017). The Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO), Friends of Ocean Action – a World Economic Forum platform, Stirling University and others, are all actively supporting work to realise more feed ingredients from the by-product of seafood processing, whether at sea or onland. Currently only a third of fishmeal input comes from byproduct, according to IFFO. Page 33

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3 Key Findings for UK Aquaculture 3.1 UK Aquaculture Sector Stakeholder Landscape This section looks at the organisations (largely non-commercial) that have an impact and an interest in UK aquaculture. It provides an overview of who is doing what in this area and acts as a stakeholder mapping exercise. It is split up into the key groups across the UK and in the devolved nations around regulation, campaigning, academia and business. We focus on who is responsible for UK aquaculture and who influences the sector in the UK as a whole and in the home nations.

3.1.1 Overall regulation Responsibilities for the various regulatory and policy aspects relating to UK aquaculture are spread across national Governmental and semi-governmental bodies. The following table provides an overview of the main departments / organisations involved, of course there are others such as employment, relating to aquaculture jobs which are relevant but have not been included.

Regulations that affect aquaculture are set by many different bodies across the UK. The Department for Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the main body in England regulating aquaculture, it also leads for UK on foreign matters. In Wales it is the Welsh Government that has authority to set rules and provide support as well as direction for aquaculture. Marine Scotland has overall responsibility for Scottish aquaculture and DAERA is responsible in Northern Ireland (DAERA, 2021).

Other departments within the UK government and those of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland regulate parts of aquaculture. For instance, Food Standards Scotland and the Fish Health Inspectorate set and check food safety standards of aquaculture products.

Table 9 - List of governmental body/organisations relevant to UK aquaculture.

Country

Government body/organisation

Regulation Summary

UK Government and DEFRA

National Strategy National legislation, policies

Marine Management Organisation (MMO)

Non departmental public body

UK

Information The UK government department responsible for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which includes fisheries and some aquaculture Regulation.

The Marine Management Organisation is an executive non- departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). MMO licenses and regulates marine activities in the seas around England and Wales Operated the £10m Fisheries fund from which 76 aquaculture businesses benefited.

Communications mention ‘farming’ or aquaculture in passing in fisheries narratives, but no focus on aquaculture.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Country

Government body/organisatio n

Seafish

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)

Regulation Summary

Information

The public body supporting theseafood industry in the UK. Funded via first sale levy.

Created the Aquaculture Common Issues Group (ACIG) - a space to discuss key challenges facing the industry, and to learn about new developments.

Seaweed Aquaculture, Dorset andEast Devon Aquaculture

Collects, manages and interprets data from the aquatic environment, associated biodiversity measurements and within fisheries (high seas and farmed).

Convened and led the Task Force atthe request of George Eustice MP, Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Seafish

Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) England

Southern Inshore Fisheries andConservation Authority (IFCA) Association of Inshore Fisheries AIFCA Devon and Severn IFCA

The public body supporting theseafood industry in the UK. Funded via first sale levy.

Supports Cefas in their efforts in collecting biological data about theaquatic environment and aquaculture industry Poole Harbour aquaculture of Pacific oyster, blue mussel, Manilaclam, common cockle.

The group looked at the challenges and opportunities facing the industry and created a long-term plan that would support England’s seafood industry toward a sustainable and thriving industry by 2040.

Government branch that financially supports the scientific work occurring with Cefas.

Southern IFCA aims to promoteand manage aquaculture within well-structured governance that meets conservation duties.

Oversee the regional IFCAs ensure Promote regional IFCAs. their management is adhered to.

Aquaculture of subtidal musselbeds and Pacific oysters

Crown Estate Scotland

Grants development rights for marine salmon farms.

Ministerial Group for Sustainable Aquaculture(MGSA)

Works with environment NGOs, local authority planners and regulatory bodies to ensure Scottish aquaculture is well managed.

Association of Scottish ShellfishGrowers (ASSG)

Scottish Trade Association to helppromote a thriving shellfish aquaculture industry throughout Scotland.

Devon and Severn ICFA are particularly active in aquaculture.

Leasing of virtually all seabed out to 12 nautical miles. Currently lease around 750 sites to fish farm operators to grow finfish and shellfish.

Established to support Scotland's aquaculture industry to achieve sustainable growth targets.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Country

Government body/organisation

Scottish Environment ProtectionAgency (SEPA)

Marine Scotland

Northern Ireland

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs(DAERA)

Wales

Welsh Government

Regulation Summary

Information

Sector for aquaculture for finfish.

Created a plan for local finfish aquaculture across the whole supply chain from the fish pens themselves to the processing facilities.

SEPA, as one of a number of organisations regulating finfish aquaculture, is implementing a revised regulatory framework that will strengthen the protection of themarine environment for the people of Scotland.

Scotland's National Marine Plan toset sustainable production targets for aquaculture around Scotland.

Northern Ireland aquaculture of shellfish: mussels, Pacific oysters & native oysters, and finfish: salmon, rainbow trout & brown trout.

Historically shellfish aquaculture -blue mussels and oysters but they want to expand to some seaweeds.

Finfish hatcheries.

Marine plan to set targets and guidelines about fisheries development - both high seas, and aquaculture.

Responsible for licensing fish farms and shellfish farms across Northern Ireland.

Also responsible for registering and approving prospective aquaculture facilities.

Welsh National Marine Plan (WNMP) includes a section about aquaculture.

There is no ‘one’ entity that is responsible for UK aquaculture. Further, there is little evidence of any coordination between the four nations or evidence of a joined-up approach to aquaculture. The implication of this is that there is no coherent strategy for the sector and that communications between nations as well as interest groups (e.g., environment, economics, community) is not currently coordinated.

While aquaculture is being recognised and regulated, its importance is linked to its market value and its wider value as an appropriate food system, in ecosystem services, and aprovider of jobs is not apparently considered.

The following table provides an overview of other non-commercial stakeholders. A full list of related organisations and individuals identified during the research is provided in the Annex.

Table 10 - Key non-governmental organisations involved in the UK aquaculture sector (overview).

Country Global

Organisation name

Description / Significance

Global Seafood Alliance (formerly the Global Aquaculture Alliance)

An international nongovernment, non-profit, organization dedicated to advancing responsible seafood practices through education, advocacy and third-party assurances.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council

International non-profit, non-government, organisation. Global provider of aquaculture standards.

Grouping

NGO

Standards

Initiative on responsibleaquaculture Provides information, online training, forums andstandards for responsible aquaculture developmentincluding environment, social issues and human rights, animal welfare, food safety and climate change.

Incorporates The Centre for Responsible Seafood.

Provide global standards,third party audited, for aquaculture.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

GlobalGap

Global provider of standards (flowers, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry)

BAP is the only aquaculture certification program that Best Aquaculture certifies each step of the Practice production chain i.e. from hatchery, through farm to processor, including feed.

Standards

Standards

Global NGO with strong brand and public awareness.

WWF International

• The chemicals sometimes used can pollute the water.

• If farmed fish escape, they can negatively impactwild populations.

• Disease can spread from farmed to wildfish.

• Feed production can require fishing species that are an important food sourceto both marine predators and people.

NGO, Global and regional UK

Farming these species responsibly will have a substantial, positive effect on the aquaculture industry, environment, and give people the ability to make good food choices.

Europe Seaweed for Europe UK

Marine Conservation Society

A Coalition to advance and scale a sustainable and innovative seaweed industry in Europe One of the main ocean related and seafood experts NGOs in the UK. Strong UK brand.

Actively support improvement of aquaculture and production/consumption of some species now.

Provide global standards,third party audited, for aquaculture.

UK position: Aquaculture farms can have negative impacts onthe environment if they are not operating in a responsible way:

Salmon, Seaweed and Shrimp are priority commodities.

WWF works to protect farmed shrimp and salmon because they serve a vast number of markets but live in ecologically important habitats. We also focus on tilapia, mussels, clams, scallops, oysters, abalone, pangasius, freshwater trout, seriola and cobia¬ because they provide important sources of protein to people.

Provide B2B global standards for aquaculture.

When operating responsibly,the impacts of aquaculture can be minimal.

Creating a sustainable supply of seafood will only be possible if the social andenvironmental impacts from aquaculture are minimised.

Focus on feed/seaweed.

Semigovernmental

NGO

Several UK based members including KelpCrofting, Cornwall Seaweed, and Algae UK • Provide guidance to consumers and seafood buyers on the most sustainable seafood choices including farmed seafood.

• Employ FT MaricultureManager.

• Influence the market for seafood via their public facing seafood guide, the Good Fish Guide.

• Raise consumer awareness about the value of choosing sustainable, both farmed and wild. Work collaboratively to influence environmental aspects of aquaculture production standards.

• Work on the development and implementation of regulations and policies relating to aquaculture and capture fisheries.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

RSPCA

British trout association

The RSPCA has set welfare standards for Salmon production based on best practices defined by industry.

The British Trout Association Ltd (BTA) represents the UK trout farming industry and aims to provide a legislative framework for the industry, to encourage research and development and to promote generic marketing activities within the industry.

NGO/Standard holder

Business and producer organisations

Shellfish Association of Great Britain

The SAGB represents the views of shellfisheries, both wild-caught and cultivated, in debates with the Government, other users of the sea and environmental organisations. We are striving to ensure a more viable and sustainable future for UK shellfish operations.

Alongside our lobbying activities, the SAGB also promotes the sustainability of your operations, the health benefits of eating shellfish, brings together buyers and sellers of shellfish

The Crown Estate (excluding Scotland)

The Crown Estate plays an important role in UK aquaculture as it manages the seabed and half the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Crown Estate Scotland has this role in Scotland.

Business

Seafish

Seafish works across the UK supporting the seafood industry, providing information and encouragingconsumption of seafood.

Nondepartmental Government Body

Business and producer organisations

Working on fish welfare.

Working on Feed Conversion Ratios, Responsible sourcing offish feed and Environmental Stewardship.

Shellfish contribute nearly 50% of the total value of seafood landed into the UK vessels into the UK. Cultivated shellfish contribute an additional £38 million, from nearly 30,000 tonnes.

Shellfish includeslow impact cultivated species such as mussels, considered to be the mostsustainable animal protein production system.

Manages the Seafood 2040 strategy including Aquaculture and the Aquaculture Interest Group which meets to discuss UK Aqua topics.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

Aqua Spark

Marine Stewardship Council

Aqua-Spark is a global investment fund based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, that is developing this optimal aquaculture food system by investing in companies all along the aquaculture value chain working to solve industry challenges, with a shared vision of a sustainable future.

Non-profit organisation Global leading wild capture standards holder with standards Non-profit Organic standards for aquaculture.

Soil association

England

Aquaculture funding, and investment

NGO/Standard holder Standard holder (in association with Soil Association organisation)

Evaluates environmental impacts of aquaculture.

Natural England

Nondepartmental Government Body

Actively seeking to fund solutions and innovations that enable the responsible development of aquaculture. Have invested in UK based projects

Standards for Oysters, Mussels and share a seaweed standard with ASC

Organic standards promoting minimum negative impact food systems. Have standards for aquaculture and seaweed.

Natural England does not appear to address aquaculture directly, but the non-invasive species actions (as below) impact s significantly on the sector: • Ensuring that food is produced sustainably and profitably.

• Continuing to cut greenhouse gas emissions including from land use, land use change, the agriculture and waste sectors and the use of fluorinated gases.

• Managing and reducing the impact of existing plant and animal diseases; lowering the risk of new ones and tackling invasive non-native species.

• Working with partners to raise awareness of invasive non- native species and the need for strong biosecurity.

• Maintaining an alert system to detect high priority invasive non- native species and implement contingency plans to rapidly eradicate them where feasible. Deliver the marine spatial planning and licensing systems needed to support proportionate management of the marine environment whilst enabling growth and providing greater certainty for industry and investors.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

The Fishmongers Company

English Aquaculture Innovation Hub

NatureScot

Plays a leading role in upholding the standards in the trading of fish and shellfish and contributes to the UK fishing and aquaculture sectors.

Aquaculture funding, support, and investment

Potential development of an English Aquaculture Innovation hub which aims to help England increase its aquaculture output ten-fold over the next 20 years.

Aquaculture funding, support, and investment

Scotland’s Nature Agency aiming to steer fish farming towards the most suitable locations and technologies to safeguard Scotland’s nature and landscapes.

Semigovernmental NatureScot is the lead public body responsible for advising Scottish Ministers on all matters relating to the natural heritage

Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation

Trade Association representing Business and the Scottishsalmon producers producer organisations

Seafood Scotland

The national trade and marketing body for the Scottish Seafood Industry

Fund a number of fisheries and aquaculture related projects and initiatives. Funded the report on Contributions and Services of the Pacific Oyster to the UK’s marine and coastal economy June 2021.

Over the last four years significant momentum has been building behind aquaculture across Dorset and England and now the time is right, with stakeholder support,to develop a world leading, innovation hub to take aquaculture production to the next level.

One of four bodies with astatutory role in advising planning authorities on aquaculture planning development.

• • •

•

Scottish Environment Protection Agency NatureScot Marine Scotland Science Association of Salmon Fishery Boards

A working arrangement document has been agreed which sets out each body’s roles and responsibilities.

Sector ambition is to become worldleading inthe provision of healthy,tasty, nutritious food, produced in the most responsible and sustainable way.

Business and producer organisations

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

The Institute of Aquaculture is an international centre in aquaculture and the largest of its kind in the world.

The University of Stirling

Aim to tackle global problems of food security, hunger and sustainability through aquaculture.

Academia

Considerable research into the role and development of sustainable aquaculture. Leading provider of degree and post degree level education in aquaculture.

International reputation for our teaching, world-class research, technological innovation and consultancy in aquaculture.

Heriot-Watt University

University of Portsmouth Wales

Bangor University

Research leaders in the Blue Economy including aquaculture

Aquaculture research and the economics of marine management.

Academia

Considerable research into the role and development of sustainable aquaculture. Leading provider of degree and post degree level education in aquaculture.

Academia

The Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture research group at Bangor University has a long Academia history of world leading research. Its approach is wide-ranging, covering:

Considerable research into the role and development of sustainable aquaculture.

Leading provider of degree and post degree level education in aquaculture.

1) stock assessmentand biology of fish and shellfish, and 2) ecosystem impacts of fisheries and aquaculture.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Northern Ireland

Loughs Agency is an agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC). It was set up as one of the cross-border bodies under the 1998 Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland.

Loughs Agency

The Agency provides sustainable social, economic and environmental benefits.

We do this through the effective conservation, management, promotion and development of the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford areas.

Semi-government

Loughs Agency carries out an annual survey of the Lough Foyle farms tomonitor their size and extent of the farmed Pacific Oysters.

In Lough Foyle, thefarming of Pacific oysters is currently unregulated.

There were previously organisations based in Ireland that included Northern Ireland for aquaculture development, research, and funding, but this inclusion of Northern Ireland has been affected by Brexit with such organisations appearing to focus only on Ireland now. There’s very little information apparent regarding non-commercial and non-governmental bodies in support of or in opposition of the Northern Ireland aquaculture sector.

3.1.2 Semi-governmental/NPMBs/other Environmental and scientific research relating to aquaculture is largely carried out by CEFAS for (England, Wales, Scotland) and SEPA the Scottish environmental agency. NatureScot and Natural England evaluate environmental impacts of aquaculture.

The Crown Estate plays an important role in UK aquaculture as it manages the seabed and half the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Crown Estate Scotland has this role in Scotland, issuing leases and licences for aquaculture for example. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) also has responsibilities relating to aquaculture around marine planning.

Seafish works across the UK supporting the seafood industry. It is funded from a levy on the first sale of seafood ie Fish and shellfish farmers, growers and cultivators. The Levy is also due from any UK registered fishing vessel owner, fish and shellfish farmer, grower or cultivator who lands product in the United Kingdom for subsequent sale direct to a foreign customer. Note no levy is collected from salmon. They conduct research across the sector, publish information of relevance, bring stakeholders together as well as seeking to increase consumption of seafood.

Seafish explained that they are also involved in a number of strategic aquaculture-related groups and initiatives to help support aquaculture activities in the UK. They also facilitate the Aquaculture Common Issues Group. It provides a valuable, regular forum to exchange knowledge and a valuable networking opportunity.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Another project Seafish facilitates is looking at issues around water quality on behalf of the Shellfish Stakeholder Working Group. It seeks to develop an approach which enables the production of high-quality shellfish that fully meets consumer safety and regulatory requirements.

Seafood 2040 has published a strategy for the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector in England over the next 20 years. The original framework (2016-17) was refreshed in 2020. It’s primary objectives and the Aquaculture specific area are shown below in Figure 13 & 14, sourced from Seafish (2021b). It is focussed on growing consumption of seafood while growing the sector, both wild and farmed, through enabling regulation and supporting access to markets. There is less evidence of time bound targets and scenario illustrations of what the sector can provide.

Figure 13 & 14 – Information on the UK Seafood 2040 Strategy (Seafish, 2021b)

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture 3.1.3 Aquaculture funding, support, and investment There are examples of banks (such as Rabobank) and funds providing investment for aquaculture technology, initiatives and farming operations. It can be high risk though with many not finding economic viability.

An example of an aquaculture investment fund is Aqua Spark, a Dutch-based social impact investor in aquaculture. In 2014 it became the first investment fund focused on sustainable fish farming. Another such investment fund is HATCH which invests in companies toachieve the least-possible footprint of farmed and alternative seafood for the benefit of the oceans, terrestrial ecosystems and future generations (HATCH, 2021).

3.1.4 Non-governmental Organisations (eNGOs) and Standard Holders There are eNGOs and individuals that actively campaign against aquaculture. Animal welfare or pro vegan groups will also speak out against fish farming. Films such as Seaspiracy have received high levels of public interest. On the whole, aquaculture does not receive the most positive press, nor enjoy the positive support of the UK public that fisheries do (although that support is not reflected in the market). Studies show that, despite most food consumed being farmed, UK consumers generally have a negative perception of farmed fish.

Other eNGOs recognise the benefits of aquaculture and look to support its development in a balanced and responsible way, actively addressing some of the challenges facing the sector.

The prominent eNGOs across UK that work in this way are the Marine Conservation Society, WWF UK and the network of Wildlife Trusts.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has an established aquaculture programme that covers England, Scotland and Wales and employs a FT employee focussed on this work. MCS is supportive of responsible aquaculture and sees aquaculture as essential to the future of food production especially since wild fisheries are at capacity and seafood demand is growing.

They do not work at a community level, generally focussing on larger scale issues and as a charity have limited capacity. The MCS wants the aquaculture industry to be as diverse, responsible, innovative as it can be and to see tangible change on the water in a meaningful way. They would like to find ways to implement this at a commercial level and consider new species are an important part of this.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture “Salmon farming still has environmental issues of concern, including sea lice and disease management and wider impacts on species and marine features. However, it has also made some improvements in recent years, such as the responsible sourcing of feed ingredients.

A recent review of the Scottish salmon farming industry’s environmental performance and regulation highlighted concerns and identified actions to improve them. We’re working to ensure that these concerns are fully addressed, and improvements are delivered.”

Marine Conservation Society, 2021

WWF UK recognises that aquaculture farms can have negative impacts on the environment if they are not operating in a responsible way: • • • •

The chemicals sometimes used can pollute the water.

If farmed fish escape, they can negatively impact wild populations.

Disease can spread from farmed to wild fish.

Feed production can require fishing species that are an important food source to both marine predators and people.

But when operating responsibly, the impacts of aquaculture can be minimal. Creating a sustainable supply of seafood will only be possible if the social and environmental impacts from aquaculture are minimised. WWF support the Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification and also focus on WWF is looking into alternative feed products such as seaweed.

These marine plants don’t require feed when farmed and can absorb excess nutrients from the seas, helping to reduce pollution risk without needing land, freshwater or fertiliser. Seaweed and other aquatic plants have great potential to provide feed (e.g. protein) and nutrients (e.g.

DHA, oil) for farmed fish and crustaceans - around 30 million tonnes of seaweed is already produced globally, but there is potential to grow much more.

Wildlife Trusts recognise seaweed aquaculture can help store carbon and reduce the impacts of ocean acidification while providing habitat and nursery for young fish and crustaceans.

Regionally activity varies. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust partnered with the Humber Aquaculture Partnership (HAP) on a two-year project funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and is located on the Humber Estuary at Spurn Point. The project aim was to develop a multi-species aquaculture site including; mussels, razor clams, seaweed and native oysters.

The development of the site and facilities would support the professional development of fisheries and marine biology students through undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. Several research themes were intended, for example, investigating the impact of sustainable aquaculture on the surrounding species richness and biodiversity as well as growth, survival and the reproductive potential of the cultured species throughout the project.

Third party standards operating in the UK The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) set up in 2010 is one of two global standard holders providing third party certification for responsibly farmed seafood. Its standards cover 12 species including salmon. There are 32 certificate holders in the UK, 28 for salmon (largely produced by the world’s biggest farmed salmon producer Norwegian company MOWI) and 4 for oysters.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Global Seafood Alliance (formerly the Global Aquaculture Alliance) own the Best Aquaculture Practice Standards, a suite of global standards providing third party certification for hatcheries, farms, feed mills and seafood processing plants. BAP has over 75 certified facilities in the UK which include hatcheries, farms, feed mills and processing plants.

The RSPCA has set welfare standards for Salmon production based on best practices defined by industry. It has been a successful means for producers to apply best practices that have actually made operations more efficient and the certification scheme operated by RSPCA assurance applies a logo to product that is recognised in the marketplace (RSPCA, 2021). This ensures UK aquaculture is distinguished and there is a market for UK aquaculture produce.

When interviewing two members of the RSPCA, they expressed how they had mixed feeling regarding UK aquaculture. The nature of the industry is that it is made up of numerous challenges relating to environmental, social, and scientific factors, therefore also making it one of the most innovative. An example of this relates to one of the main challenges the RSPCA foresee: how climate change is causing water temperatures to rise, which impactsfish welfare through an increase in disease and parasites. As a result of this issue, preventative measures, such as lice shields, and semi closed containers are now being used. Even though the industry can be innovative, there still is not an abundance of funding to help research or produce these ideas. In order to try and achieve a standard of fish welfare, aquaculture sites can become RSPCA assured, through adhering to a set of guidelines provided by the RSPCA. At least 90% of salmon producers in Scotland are RSPCA assured certified.

The RSPCA members expressed how it is not a case of one country, company or aquaculture site performing well, instead each site does things better than the others. In terms of technology being used that could indicate a well performing aquaculture site, they referred to Environets and the use of AI and cameras. The interviewees stated how once one company receives recognition for utilising these best practices, usually others follow. In addition, itwas pointed out that a lot of Scottish aquaculture regulations are out of date, as they were drafted 20-30 years ago. In order to mitigate further aquaculture related damage, the RSPCA has a new standard published biannually. They did admit that although they try to push through serious issues related to all of aquaculture, salmon usually seems to be the focus of any schemes. The last standard was published in February 2021 and the next should be published in 2023.

According to the two RSPCA members, the UK is one of the leaders for fish welfare as it is one of the only places with a welfare standard. Norway was also referred to as a global leader for aquaculture, due them having an aquaculture act included in their laws. Other countries that are performing well in aquaculture, but are still developing included Iceland, Canada, Chile and Australia.

The Soil Association published an updated version of the aquaculture standard in October 2021. The standard is heavily based on the EU Organic Regulation standards. There are certified organic salmon and mussels in the UK and audits are carried out by a third-party organisation.

GlobalGAP provides third party business to business certification including for aquaculture sites. At the time of producing this report the authors were unable to establish how much production in the UK is certified to GlobalGAP standards.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture 3.1.5 Academia The UK has a strong academic sector with specialists working in aquaculture, this section outlines a few of the leading institutions.

The University of Stirling is a global leader in aquaculture research providing innovation and guidance to UK aquaculture as well as globally.

The University of Portsmouth Centre for Blue Governance is active in aquaculture research as well as the economics of marine management (University of Portsmouth, 2021), and Sparsholt college is an example of an institute that provides training in aquaculture and applied knowledge necessary for aquaculture development.

The Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture research group at Bangor University has a long history of world leading research. Its approach is wide-ranging, covering 1) stock assessment and biology of fish and shellfish, and 2) ecosystem impacts of fisheries and aquaculture.

Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh is one of the leading research institutes in this area focusing on the Blue Economy and stewardship of blue resources, for human wellbeing as well as reducing environmental impacts.

3.1.6 Media There are many aquaculture media resources available via free access and paid subscription, below is an example of some of the resources available.

Source Description Responsible Seafood Advocate (formerly Provide up to date information on UK Global Aquaculture Advocate) aquaculture activity and innovation.

Fish Farming International Provide up to date information on UK aquaculture activity and innovation.

Seafood Source - Diversified The leading communications group globally on aquaculture, they organise aquaculture exhibitions and training.

FIS (Fish Information and Services) Useful resource on aquaculture activity in the UK AquaBuzz A newsletter run by Aquaculture UK providing up to date news on the UK aquaculture industry.

Aquaculture UK also provides an exhibition giving direct access to qualified buyers and suppliers globally.

UndercurrentNews Not aquaculture or UK specific but reports on latest aquacultures news and trends.

Table 11 - List of examples of aquaculture media links

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture The documentary Seaspiracy by British filmmaker Ali Tabrizi released on Netflix in 2021.

Seaspiracy drew significant coverage in mainstream media and across social media for its exposure of the wild capture and aquaculture industries.

For many of the audience, who were able to watch the documentary on their television making it very accessible, this would have been the first time they had received information about the impacts of the industry and, for some, informed strong opinions opposed to seafood practices and their consumption choices.

Many industry bodies and academics have disputed claims made within it and alleged it has spread misinformation through misrepresenting evidence and sources (McVeigh, 2021; Allen, 2021). The reach of these rebuttals will not match the reach of the documentary viewership; therefore the dominant impact will be a drop in public perception and support for the industrial seafood industry, whilst creating further incentives to improve practices for social and environmental sustainability on industry players for social license and local support to operate.

3.2 Current and Future Priorities for UK Aquaculture 3.2.1 Governance and regulation The UK has a complex mosaic of regulations applicable to aquaculture. There is a lack of coordination between nations leading to different regulations and strategies. Thoseresponsible for the various aspects of aquaculture do not appear to communicate across issues(planning, testing etc.) or departments (environment, finance, employment etc.). The ensuing high number of regulations makes it difficult for seafood farms to operate agilely. For example, Scottish regulation includes lots of different regulators and there is no overarching regulator. The Scottish Government has appointed Professor Grigg to lead an independent review of how fish farms are regulated, “Aquaculture plays a major role in maintaining sustainable rural communities and the economy as a whole and this review is both timely and necessary” (Marine Scotland, 2021a).

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Aquaculture is a significant contributor to our rural economy, providing well paid jobs in some of Scotland’s most fragile communities and will be an essential part of our green recovery and transition to net zero. The industry also provides a source of home grown, nutritious low carbon protein that is enjoyed at home and abroad. However reports and parliamentary activity over the last few years have made clear that the regulatory landscape is contentious and there is a need for improved efficiency, effectiveness and transparency.”

Marine Scotland, 2021a

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture The Scottish government conducted a major seaweed study in Scotland which identified the potential for development (Marine Scotland, 2021). There is also a Scottish strategic plan for aquaculture growth (Scotland Food & Drink, 2016). With equally strategic plans in England and Wales (for example, see potential for aquaculture in Wales (Welsh Government, 2015)).

And Seafish’s Seafood 2040 which sets out a plan for a seafood industry that is ‘thriving and sustainable’ (Seafish, 2021b). But the strategies are not joined and communication between these bodies within the UK is a barrier to development. This is equally a problem between industry bodies, e.g. the British Trout Association and UK authorities.

There is no coordinated strategy for the UK or decision taken from the top about theimportance of aquaculture for food security, what they want to achieve, by when and howthis relates to performance objectives. In the opinion of those consulted there is a need for an overarching UK regulator and information sharing between nations, based on that the conditions needed for the sector to grow could be better understood and suitable regulations applied.

While it may be that each devolved country, with its unique attributes, should have its own regulations and direction, it may be helpful if the overarching regulators and policy makers came together regularly. This might allow useful conversations around the greater role of aquaculture as a food system across the UK, consideration of how and where it is most suited to take place, and possible sharing of scientific data and other communications.

There are some examples of good practice that could form the basis for the UK, in the opinion of an interviewee, the Scottish salmon is considered as the best regulated aquaculture globally.

More broadly Norway and Scotland are considered to be very well regulated by many NGOs and private sector stakeholders, however both are thought to have ongoing challenges for siting, disease management and animal welfare. One of the complications in Scotland is that regulation is piecemeal and they don’t have an overarching regulator responsible for aquaculture as a sector. There are examples of overarching national regulations put in place to promote aquaculture in other countries such as in Chile where theyintroduced a general law on aquaculture and fisheries in 2013 that coordinates the sector. TheChilean President has recently requested a review of this law.

Respondents to the survey noted that the benefits of coordinated regulation are being communicated to the UK government and devolved administrations. For example, the ‘economic impact of aquaculture in Wales’ (AIW) has been set up with the support of the Shellfish Association of GB with the aim to better communicate the potential value of aquaculture. The Fishmongers’ company also helped to set up the All Party Parliamentary Group on fisheries and aquaculture, which speaks to a group of MPs in Westminster about sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. The objective is to educate parliamentarians since understanding of it is considered low. The Fishmongers’ company also commissioned a report on the future and potential of the Pacific Oyster industry (a link to this report is provided later).

3.2.2 Ensuring access to markets for UK aquaculture produce Market access was identified as an essential part of the economics of aquaculture sustainability.

There were many cases where the lack of market access or the challenges of getting the right aquaculture product to customers has meant the initiative failing.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

Getting product to market (infrastructure and logistics), especially from small-scale producers, is a major challenge. The lack of infrastructure and services increases costs andcan affect quality if deliveries are delayed. Larger producers can overcome this challenge dueto volumes, investment availability but this is not possible for the smaller producers.

Brexit has caused a major issue with exporting shellfish from the UK to the EU. There were many comments suggesting these issues threatened to put some producers out of business unless something is done to support them.

At present, Brexit regulation around water quality is a big problem and one we are actively engaged with (fixing the testing, fixing the water quality) for non-EU markets, distance becomes more of an issue, and so unit/value/carbon footprint might be concerning. Without a coordinated market access strategy (and mapping) that takes into account supply and demand factors there can be no sustainable aquaculture development.

Shellfish from all parts of the UK has lost European markets. But interviewees felt these can be regained and the planning and application process can be streamlined whilst ensuring environmental protection and appropriate locations if there is a commitment to do so. Seaweed is still currently a niche product for consumers in the UK and so export markets are needed but is thought to hold immense potential for the UK. UK consumers may shift to more sustainable food, including lower footprint and more local, as awareness continues to grow and as a consequence of both Brexit and Covid. This may provide opportunity to develop more domestic markets for the products of home-grown aquaculture, beyond salmon, making the sector less reliant on export markets. UK retailers and food service have a role to play.

3.2.3 Resources and inputs into production; limits to development Interviewees commented that training is needed to ensure the skills necessary for aquaculture, not only to maintain the sector, but to grow it. Connecting people in the community to smallscale aquaculture is not happening, some noted.

We were told that UK aquaculture had been characterised by migrant labour and finding domestic workers is a challenge. For example, Polish workers are prominent in processing facilities and Romanian on the farm units. There needs to be development of aquaculture careers so that workers are attracted to the sector.

Another example of resources being a challenge is in farmed scallops. Farming is seen as a more sustainable production method and less damaging to the environment than dredging for this popular shellfish. The bottleneck however here is the availability of spat and without it the industry finds it hard to expand. In terms of business support what needs to be done is to encourage spat production in the UK and link that to on-growing facilities. It is not clear why spat production is not happening and further research is needed a lack of political support and the complex regulatory system are likely detracting from investment

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture 3.2.4 Farming non-native species The farming of rock oysters has been a subject of great consternation in terms of non-native species. Rock Oysters, also known as Pacific Oysters, makes up the bulk of UK oyster production, is farmed in every nation of the UK, and is successfully cultivated across mainland Europe. In 2021, the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) and The Fishmongers’ company drew together a team of experts to capture the current and potential value of the Pacific Oyster to the UK, covering the ecological, economic, and societal benefit,as well as providing information on how neighbouring countries approach the cultivation and wild settlement of this species in their coastal waters of conservation importance. this speciesis the world’s most globalised shellfish, farmed in over 50 countries.

In Europe, Pacific oyster production in Ireland, France and Spain far outstrips that in the UK, with France alone producing about 100 times more than Britain. In these countries, thespecies is recognised as naturally resident, including in areas of importance to marine conservation, and Pacific oyster farming is backed by strong support from government.

It is proposed that clarification of the legality and status of farming Pacific oysters could be provided to enable investment and provide security for existing businesses. Alternatively, if the UK seeks to retire its Pacific oyster industry, then clear guidance must be given to ease the exit ofexisting businesses and a pragmatic management strategy put in place to account for the ongoing presence of the species in British waters. Oyster farming, whether Pacific ir native oysters, provides a number of key ecosystem services important for a healthy marine environment.

Unlike other forms of food production, oysters and other shellfish farming have a very low carbon footprint, and can even be a carbon sink, locking carbon away in shells. The Fishmongers’ commissioned report proposes that if the UK is to benefit from the ecosystem services and socio-economic benefits of a robust Pacific oyster production sector then it will be necessary to embrace the Pacific oyster – as per other European countries. Natural England, who do not address aquaculture specifically as a part of their remit, oppose the Pacific oyster on the principal that it is not indigenous, and the native oyster is a protected species.

Even where the species is native to the UK as a whole, translocations from one area to another within the UK can cause problems if not done appropriately. This is an issue for seaweed where growing a species from one region in another can cause problems. Cefas has carried out research into this e.g. FLAG project (Cefas, 2018), IMTA report on this by Cefas (DEFRA, 2019).

Species with great potential for food security (e.g. Tilapia) can only be imported to the UK and grown after strict risk assessment and under certain conditions. Development in closed systems may be possible more easily, were tilapia considered an appropriate species to farmin the UK. 360 Aquaculture, led by James Fox Davies who chairs the Seafood 2040 Aquaculture Strategy, were looking at this possibility. Tilapia does not currently have a meaningful market in the UK although it is to be found since 2014. It may become more popular as an ingredient fish over time and subject to growing awareness of this vegetarian, farmed, white fish.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture 3.2.5 Climate change impacts Climate change will no doubt have an impact on aquaculture. Multiple interviewees who were involved with the protection of salmon referred to how rising ocean temperatures can mean it is easier for diseases and parasites, such as sea lice, to breed. This can have a knockon effect for aquaculture sites, as they suffer an increased rate of fish mortality. Salmon sites in Ireland, for example, are not able to expand further as the ocean is already reaching temperatures that are too high for fish welfare to be maintained. An increase in lice can impact on wild stocks too which may already be more vulnerable adapting to the changing physiology of the sea. Ocean acidification may impact on the shellfish, but in aquaculture thedevelopment of spats and juveniles in controlled environments may reduce the impact.Mussels, for example, can manage the effects on their shell formation during maturity stages but the extra energy required to do so may impact on health of growth in other ways.

Sea temperatures have been modelled and demonstrate that salmon on Scotland’s west coast will likely remain within tolerance levels of the preferred temperature range of 5–19°C with the optimum being 13–17°C (Callaway et al., 2012) although surface temperatures, particularly in more sheltered areas, may exceed this range. Technology and siting are likely to be important mitigation factors. However, the likely rise in sea temperatures may also enable the farming of new species - such as sea bass in the southern UK - which are currently farmed in Mediterranean areas and a popular import to the UK market.

Other climate change impacts may include more extreme weather – precipitation or storms, for example. These can result in structural damage to farm infrastructure which may cause fish escapes or mortality - or the development of harmful algae blooms catalysed by terrestrial run off near shore.

3.2.6 Communities Many respondents to the survey opined that the main benefit to communities resulting from aquaculture would be the increase of local jobs. Another added that local communities feel sense of pride that comes from a community coming together to produce a product.

In contrast, others argued that the number of jobs created from an aquaculture site is minimal.

The main concern raised by multiple survey respondents was that aquaculture sites may displace other marine users, such as fishers. Other community-based concerns included pollution and some finding aquaculture visually intrusive, which could potentially impact already existing tourism industries. Two of those that completed the survey offered that communities need to feel they have a platform and a voice to mitigate any unwanted encroachment of aquaculture on their lives.

However, it was also noted that some major investors in Scotland are building housing where needed, for example Scottish Sea Farms were granted approval to build six new eco-friendly homes on the remote island of Eday in Orkney. Further many of Scotland’s salmon companies have pioneered the installation of superfast internet connections, often usingfibreoptic cables, for remote communities.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture 3.2.7 Training In 2020, Seafish published the Review of Practical, Operational Aquaculture Training across the UK (Seafish, 2020a). The conclusions of that report are noted below, but overall it was considered that there is good access to degree level qualifications and associated opportunity in aquaculture, in the UK, but much less in terms of practical, continuous, skill based or specie specific, or apprenticeship types of training and education.

It is less well understood how attractive practical careers in aquaculture are perceived, but a lack of opportunity and apprenticeships may influence that perception.

Finfish and Shellfish •

• •

Overall, companies did not report difficulties in finding staff with higher level educational qualifications but did find it more difficult to find people with useful technical skills.

The industry, both finfish and shellfish, appears to indicate that it would benefit from apprenticeships across the UK despite availability being restricted to Scotland.

Safe Dive Management is a course that appears to be needed, however, SAIF have indicated that they have already started to develop a course.

- Finfish •

There is a need for increased access to capstan, crane and forklift training course places in Scotland.

- Shellfish • •

•

•

Companies indicated that manual handling over long periods was causing an issue as employees get older.

Bivalve Purification Operations / Depuration training is still required, however, of the 8 shellfish companies that responded on this topic, two did not need depuration as the Coop was doing the operation for them and a third was planning to work with a company that would take over the responsibility.

Small companies are less aware of employer health & safety requirements and are less likely to have anyone qualified in health & safety IOSH or NEBOSH. A leaflet explaining their obligations under HSE legislation and listing any essential training for their industry sector may be beneficial particularly to someone taking over an existing business or starting a new business.

Many of the smaller companies were unaware of the aquaculture training available to them in their local area. Creating a full list of aquaculture training for the whole UK may be useful.

3.2.8 Fish welfare Animal welfare as it relates to farmed fish focus on stocking density, transport, slaughter, disease and parasites, handling and water quality. Welfare of farmed fish is gaining growing attention with Open Philanthropy having commissioned detailed studies (in progress) from several groups including Compassion in World Farming, Global Seafood Alliance and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture “Any expansion should be on the proviso that any current issues are resolved, the main consideration for the RSPCA is that fish welfare is not compromised and should be one of the main considerations when looking at further expansion” “Fish welfare needs to be one of the main considerations in any growth plans”.

A recent UK news piece revealed that no government department considers they have responsibility for the welfare of fish at slaughter in the UK (Horton, 2021). This means that currently no inspections are being made. This is a surprising revelation given the introduction of cameras in animal abattoirs in 2008 and the inclusion of octopus and lobster in the Animal Welfare Bill recently – again demonstrating the lack of cohesion recognising the aquaculture sector as a part of the food system.

4 Case Studies 4.1

Devon mussels

Offshore Shellfish is a family run business, founded by John and Nicki Holmyard, who have been involved in the mussel and seafood industries for more than 30 years. They are building the UK’s first large-scale, fully offshore, rope cultured mussel farm off the coast of South Devon, in a challenging marine environment. The development uses a combinationof specially designed and adapted technology to cultivate the native blue mussel, Mytilusedulis, on suspended ropes at three sites between 3 and 6 miles offshore in Lyme Bay, South Devon.

The three sites will cover a total area of 15.4 square km and plans to produce around 10,000 tonnes per year once fully developed.

The offshore location and the size of the farms enable the mussels to be cultivated at low density, which is beneficial for quality, rate of growth and meat content.

The mussels are certified organic by the Soil Association and Best Practice Aquaculture by GSA’s BAP programme. In 2020 Offshore was awarded the Best Aquaculture Company at the Aquaculture UK Awards and employee George Holmyard was awarded the Best Shellfish Farmer Award. 95% of the mussels produced are exported to Europe.

BBC News article: “Bivalves have the remarkable potential to provide people with food that is not only environmentally sustainable but also nutrient dense,” says David Willer, a zoologist at the University of Cambridge in the UK. With a higher protein content than many meats and plant crops, and high levels of essential omega-3 fatty acids and micronutrients, like iron, zinc and magnesium, this specific group of shellfish has the potential to ameliorate many global food issues.

Lovell, 2021

The arrival of Brexit, making the UK a third country, heralded unforeseen barriers to that export due to HMG classification of its waters and EU regulations. The waters in which the Offshore Shellfish mussels are grown are regularly classified as B by UK regulators which makes the mussels unable to be exported to the EU. Winter classification is an A and exports are currently Page 54

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture underway again. This regulatory and classification uncertainty is preventing further development and even threatening the survival of the farm. Relocating away from the UK is an option.

“The uncertainty that stems from this means it is extremely difficult to get the confidence of investors to support the expansion of the farm beyond the one third we have built so far and the farm only really makes economic sense if it gets towards the scale intended. A further effect of the uncertainty is the impact it has on our employees who all have their own life plans and worry about job security.”

HMG does not seem to be giving this problem any priority demonstrating a lack of understanding in the exemplar role rope grown mussels can play in climate mitigating food systems, low impact food production as well as local jobs and exports.

4.2 Prawns in recirculating system FloGro prawns are growing whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) – the typical shrimp imported from South East Asia and loved by the UK market – in recirculating, closed, systems in Lincolnshire.

The FloGro System is designed to use renewable energy, while also minimising power requirements. The production environment is completely controlled with sustainable heating, solar power forming the basis of the electrical consumption and a robust water conservation policy. The prawns are grown in salt water to mimic natural sea water. With minimal input requirements and a small carbon footprint, the FloGro system avoids high energy and chemical use, reliance on unsustainable feeds and susceptibility to diseases (FloGro Systems, 2021).

FloGro sell direct via the internet. A key challenge has been keeping up with demand and currently no prawns are available.

4.3 Scottish seaweed cooperative KelpCrofting Community scale seaweed on Scotland’s West Coast. Seeding of the farm took place in winter 2020 with juvenile kelp propagated at their own small hatchery. The first early harvest season yielded 12.5 tons of food grade kelp and this is considered to be below the potential for future years.

REDEFINING THE WAY WE USE OUR SEAS...

Crofting is a form of land-tenure and small-scale food production that has taken place in Scotland's Highlands and Islands for hundreds of years, but is also a social structure that was traditionally defined by its common working communities or "townships". Crofters are often resourceful, innovative and hardy, doing what they can with what they have, or enlisting the help of a friendly neighbour. At KelpCrofting we believe that seaweed farming should follow this ethos, using locally available resources and sharing knowledge wherever possible. KelpCrofting also believe that in the long-term, a network of small-medium scale kelp farms dotted around the coast of Scotland is likely to have lower environmental impact and provide greater employment opportunities for coastal communities than a few very large 'industrial' initiatives.

KelpCrofting, 2021 Page 55

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4.4 Fish Vet Group Veterinary services are a critical service for the aquaculture sector in order to check and maintain the heath of farmed fish. And since aquaculture is a specialised field additional capacity of fish vets is necessary in order for the industry to grow. The Fish Vet group grew up in the Scottish Highlands becoming a leading expert in aquaculture healthcare providing services domestically and internationally.

According to the Fish Vet website the company started out as an aquaculture veterinary practice, and that core activity still sits at the heart of what they do: “Over the years we’ve continued to provide frontline, proactive support to aquaculture producers, helping the industry to grow. We’ve gradually added more strings to our bow and are now a multidisciplinary company able to support the sector from concept to production.” (Inverness Campus, 2021) The key to their success has been providing a wide range of services from primary veterinary services and health consultancy to laboratory diagnostics. Other supporting services were developed such as sediment health checks, lab analysis, freshwater and shellfish surveys and statutory surveys. They also provide training in practical, online and classroom-based training in aquaculture and welfare.

Their success may not have been possible without assistance during start-up by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise who helped to secure funding for equipment, such as a digital slide scanner.

5 Country examples 5.1 Successful examples and effective initiatives 5.1.1 Norway In January 2021, the then Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen, announced that he wanted to increase the amount closed net salmon facilities as part of his new aquaculture strategy (FishFarmingExpert, 2021). The main driver for this requirement to increase the amount of closed net salmon farms, was that customers are becoming increasingly aware of fish welfare and want to know they are eating sustainably and responsibly. This has led the Norwegian government to publish the levels of pollutants, sea lice and chemicals involved in their aquaculture farmed salmon online. Having this level of transparency allows the public the opportunity to be confident that what they are eating is sustainable. Furthermore, it ensures that companies are held accountable to following regulations, as they are required to publish the information online. Huon Aquaculture, a company in Australia does something similar where anyone is able to see the antibiotic use, environmental measurements, and mortality of wildlife.

One of the issues with replacing all the open net facilities with closed net ones is the associated costs. There are approximately 4,000 fish farms along the Norwegian coasts, therefore there would need to be a lot of investment. Many farms are reluctant to make the change from open to closed net, especially as the Minister has observed that there are examples of open net facilities with low fish mortalities and low rates of sea lice.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture Even so, the Minister also recognises that Norway is leading the way in sustainable aquaculture and sees opportunity for the exportation of technology and expertise, as the demand for sustainable salmon also rises.

5.1.2 Canada Canada is another nation referred to multiple times in the survey and by interviewees who are leading the way in sustainable aquaculture practices. Similarly, to Norway, the Canadian prime minister has announced a plan to phase out open salmon cages by 2025. This announcement has come as a result of pressure from environmentalists and indigenous people.

Furthermore, Canada has begun to remove fish farms from areas where salmon migrate and moved them to land- based facilities, closed fjord facilities or offshore installations. Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan: “The overwhelming message from First Nations in the area is that they do not want these farms here. They feel that they should have an influence on their fjord areas, and I agree with them. Although there were many who recognised this collaboration with local communities as a positive step in ensuring guilt free salmon, there were those who argue that moving the site would result in a loss of jobs. At a time where jobsare at an all-time low, the implications of this move is not yet fully clear”.

5.1.3 South Korea The South Korean Vice-Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Jae Hak Son, and FAO Assistant Director-General, Maria Helena Semedo, have agreed to work collaboratively to address key aquaculture issues worldwide. This not only includes addressing issues in their own country but building the capacity of developing nations.

An example of South Korean aquaculture is their relatively recent ASC-MSC certified seaweed, which is the first seaweed farm cultivating at sea to achieve this certification. Through harvesting on ropes at sea, the farm has demonstrated a minimal impact on the environment by preserving local habitats, ecosystems, and endangered species. This type of certification is important, due to seaweeds increasing use globally, such as a key ingredient ofsushi.

5.1.4 European Wind & Seaweed Farms A Belgian – Dutch consortium who joint own Norther wind farm have started using their wind turbines to develop a system for harvesting seaweed at sea that they can implement at other sites (Farmer, 2021). The project, called the ‘Wier and Wind’ aims for the large-scale cultivation of seaweed and would be the first to cover up to 20,000m² (4.9 acres) in less sheltered waters. Currently, seaweed is mainly exported to Asian countries as the crop is used much more widely in their diet, however due to climate change and the Wests shifting diet it is estimated that seaweeds use will increase at an estimated 9% per year. The consortium running this project are also trialling oyster farming at the Borssele V wind farm and have also trialled mussel farming elsewhere. In addition, this approach is doubly sustainable, as thewind farms generate electricity.

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture 5.1.5 USA

https://www.conservationfund.org/our-work

The Conservation Fund’s, Freshwater Institute in the USA provides solutions to enable the growth of environmentally responsible aquaculture. The institute has many areas of expertise that allow them to address a variety of issues in aquaculture, including aquaculture research, engineering and consulting, aquatic veterinary medicine, aquaculture husbandry and production, industry outreach, and water chemistry analysis (Conservation Fund, 2021). They are part of a variety of aquaculture projects inside the USA and outside, such as supporting the Growth of Land-based Atlantic Salmon Production with University of Wisconsin or assisting Icelandic seafood producer Matorka with their expansion of a state-of-the-art land based arctic char facility.

The Nature Conservancy, a US based global NGO covering some 79 countries, produced a report on Restorative Aquaculture (November 2021) and the opportunities it presents. ... as the industry has historically been associated with localized environmental damage. But a substantial number of peer-reviewed publications now show that shellfish and seaweed farms can actually deliver restorative benefits for ocean health, as well as support economic development and food production in coastal communities worldwide—if the right practices are deployed in the right places.

And as noted in our recent report Foodscapes: Toward Food System Transition, an expansion of restorative aquaculture and improved management of wild fisheries could sustainably increase food from sea by 36-74 percent by 2050, making aquaculture a key part of transitioning toward a food system that works with nature.

The Nature Conservancy, 2021

5.2 Unsuccessful start ups 5.2.1 Cod farming (Scotland) In 2005 Cod farming was expanded in Scotland with a hope that it could supply a proportion of the UK’s vast demand for Cod. It was at a time when Cod stocks were over exploited, in short supply and aquaculture was seen as an opportunity to fill the shortfall. One of those companies Johnson Seafarms rapidly set up Cod farms in Scotland and developed a brand called ‘No-Catch’ to sell it under, touting the environmental benefits surrounding the product and making significant investment in to consumer facing brand development. It was sold in major retailers in UK as well as in France.

The sector had also received government support and it has been cited that work undertaken

by Seafish in the late 90s pioneered the start of cod farming, and Seafish continued to support cod farming with market and business information.

However, despite its initial success by 2008 the company had gone into administration with 40m GBP of debt (Carrell, 2008). It was also not just for this company, but the whole Cod farming industry that failed. The external pressures such as reducing price of wild cod and financial crisis did not help, but there were other considerations to take into account. So what Page 58

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture went wrong with this venture and how to learn from the mistakes so that it’s avoids happening in future?

1. Access to Market. Farming Cod is more expensive than catching it from the wild and so when cod stocks bounced back (as a result of more sustainable wild fishing) price fell and it was no-longer financially viable.

2. Finance. In the case of Johnson Seafarms the firm's chief problem was reportedly that its money supply was cut off before its fish were old enough to sell. Maintaining a stock of fish while it grows to marketable size is common for fish farming, this can be many years of ongoing cost without any return.

3. Production challenges. Cod had not been previously farmed at such scale and it turned out to be a difficult fish to farm. Unlike salmon that grows to marketable size in just 22 months, cod take up to three years to reach maturity. With the extra costs of using organic techniques which ban routine use of chemicals and medicines, or artificial feeds, and the heavy costs of opening a new hatchery and processing plant, it quickly becomes very expensive to farm. Fresh fillets of Cod were eventually selling for more than £20 a kilo - roughly 50% more than wild-caught cod on supermarket shelves and just as expensive as wild salmon.

5.2.2 Producing worms for aquafeed (Wales) Alternative feed ingredients for aquafeeds, in particular to replace fishmeal, has been an important and active sector for well over a decade. This has led to research into insects and worms being grown and utilised in aquafeed attracting interest from investors (Clements, 2019). An initiative in Wales was to farm ragworm and produce fish feed from it. The high price of ragworm (as much as lobster), the fact that alternative feed sources are produced in other countries such as Netherlands and New Zealand were all cited as reasons to invest in this sector in Wales (Musyoka et al., 2019).

In 2006 Dragon Feeds Ltd. was set up and (including funding for previous research) it received 4.5m GBP in funding from the Welsh Government. It also received private financing. The project was front page news in the fisheries press and it hoped to employ hundreds of workers.

The venture started off well, gaining royal approval from the Queen andthe worms were used to feed trout served by Gordon Ramsey.

Despite the technological basis for the project being in place and apparent financial viability the project failed due to bad, and illegal, management. The project officially failed in 2011 and was settled in court in 2019 with the owner being convicted of fraud.

Reason for failure: Bad management. It is unclear if the ragworm could have provided the UK sector with a viable feed ingredient. Soldier Fly and other insects seem to be the more favoured proteins.

5.2.3 Barramundi Recirculation Aquaculture (England) New Forest Barramundi, based in Lymington, Hampshire was set up in 2005 to produce high value fresh fish close to market using a recirculation aquaculture production system. At the Page 59

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture time is was one of the largest indoor fish farms in Europe with 48 grow-out tanks using heated brackish water. The species, also known as Asian Sea Bass is non-native to the UK and it is not a common fish consumed by the British population. Marketing was successful and it did initially sell to food service and retailers, particularly in England Fish Farmer Magazine, 2014).

The technology for production worked well and there were no significant disease outbreaks reported. Finance also did not seem to be an issue. There were however a number ofchallenges with the business model that ultimately led to the operation being closed down.

1. Production costs. The high production cost and limited selling price made it very difficult for the operation to realise a profit in the long-term.

2. Access to market. Although retailers (Waitrose) and food service (MJ Seafood) promoted the Barramundi to UK consumers it was not widely taken up by consumers.

British consumers tend not to like fresh-water species with the big 5 species (cod, haddock, prawns, tuna, salmon) accounting for over three quarters of seafood consumed in the UK. Pangasius, from VietNam, has since proved It is possible to introduce new species to the UK market at some level, but the reasonable cost combined with ‘neutral’ flavour of the white fleshed pangasius likely helped acceptance. Ultimately UK consumers would not pay the price premium that New Forest Barramundi needed to succeed in the domestic market.

3. Environmental sustainability. The farm consumed a significant amount of power in order to run the filtration systems and water heating. Feed was also an issue, although the owners had plans to go organic to address environmental issues.

Reasons for failure: High production costs, high retail price, low market interest

6 Recommendations With the exception of Scottish salmon the research, survey and interviews carried out to populate this report have shown that the UK aquaculture sector is a small industry, very fragmented, with very little political attention to support growth, investment or meaningful growth. Further that there is little or no communication between the UK countries in order to develop a cross UK strategy. This lack of political recognition as a sector which could provide nutrient rich, low impact, food in line with global narratives on future food systems, results in a vulnerability that does little to attract investment. The UK consumer eats little UKproduced seafood, thought to be largely due to price and a low appetite for the shellfishwhich is appreciated by EU consumers. Robust and accessible markets for outputs of food systems are critical to true sustainability, and withstanding economic challenge is a hurdle formost start ups.

Scottish salmon is the exception with strong export markets and political support. It is the UK’s biggest food export, by value. The Scottish government has strong plans for growth andhas commissioned work to better streamline regulations, without compromising on environmental best practice. Salmon companies provide some benefits at a community level through house building and broad band access, for example, as well as jobs and economy.The power sharing deal between the SNP and the Green Party has given rise to an agreement Page 60

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture over the future of salmon farming. This has yet to be fully agreed, and the streamlining of regulations is in development, but the core of the (Bute House) agreement looks like this: •

• •

•

An independent review to consider the effectiveness and efficiency of the current regulatory regime for fish farming – this had previously been announced by the Scottish Government; A vision and strategy for sustainable aquaculture “that places an enhanced emphasis on environmental protection and community benefits”; An immediate programme of work to better protect wildlife and the environment, including a response to the Salmon Interactions Working Group in September 2021, consultation on a “spatially adaptive” sea lice risk assessment framework for fish farms by the end of the year, and strengthened controls on sea lice, wrasse and fish escapes in the course of 2021/22; and A commitment to ensure “that fish farming contributes more to support communities and recreational fisheries, to promote innovation and to support services such as fish health and welfare inspections and monitoring”.

In addition, the Agreement commits to a “step change” in marine protection, including the introduction of a new category of “Highly Protected Marine Areas” (HPMAs), for inshore and offshore locations, which will cover at least 10% of Scottish waters.

Within the HPMAs there will be no permitted aquaculture or fisheries of any kind, or infrastructure developments, but limited tourism and recreational activities would be allowed.

The salmon, and other fed species, sectors are challenged with the same complexities experienced at a global level such as disease, parasites and sustainable, ethical, feed ingredients. The size and wealth of the sector means that these challenges attract heavy investment in to solutions and new technology approaches by governments, philanthropic funders, IGOs and companies, supported by robust science and research. Some of the major investors in these areas have strong interest in the UK, for example feed company Cargill, and the UK has world acclaimed academic institutes such as that at the University of Stirling.

More local issues facing the Scottish salmon sector, and to some extent all UK aquaculture, is around siting (both in terms of environmental best practice and local objections) and recruitment.

Stepping away from Scottish salmon the rest of the industry, across the England, Wales and Northern Ireland, faces an uncertain future. Industry and interest groups make valiant efforts to develop new strategies, show case possibilities and demonstrate the opportunities that aquaculture can offer the UK, both on shore and around its extensive coastline.

New ideas include local recirculating systems to produce seafood, using potentially redundant farm buildings and sequestering of carbon by shellfish which could be developed to create blue carbon offsets. According to John Holmyard of Offshore Shellfish, in England, who is inthe process of developing a 10,000 tonne capacity mussel farm: “If we turn a quarter of UK waters over to mussel farming, the shellfish would draw down about an eighth of our total [carbon] emissions.” Progressive thinking on the role of aquaculture as an important provider of solutions to 21st century challenges could help the UK meet its carbon reduction targets, create new economies, and develop a highly nutritious low impact food system which may beeven more important now the UK is separated from the EU. Page 61

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture

As such Esmée Fairbairn might consider one of two strategies moving forward:

6.1 Support for the UK aquaculture sector as is, providing support to the NGOs, new enterprises, and researchers, working to address the challenges of the existing and historic industry while building a sustainable sector.

This might include identifying work to support that addresses feed ingredients or disease mitigation and/or connecting to some of the work underway on these issues. Other opportunities might be to support local pilot projects exploring capacity to grow fish or shellfish for local markets with a view to helping demonstrate new models, sharing knowledge and learning, and showing, on a micro level, innovation that can support food systems, eco systems and communities.

Some examples of such projects are offered below, further to full exploration; •

Replicating the KelpCroft model may be of interest to address both sustainable development of aquaculture in a community driven model, which speaks to global trends and speaks to climate change mitigation. Although support for the enterprise, if needed, may be appropriate in the first instance in order to study the model further.

•

Explore the opportunity of creating aquaculture apprenticeships

•

Support to develop a world leading, innovation hub in England and study lessons to share

There is a Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre(External link) in Scotland which, until recently, has focused largely on the salmon production which dominates the Scottish aquaculture sector. The English coastline is very different to that of Scotland and isn’t really suited to the farming of salmon in the sea, so in the short to medium term the English aquaculture sector is not likely to feature salmon in cages in the sea. It is much more likely that seaweeds and shellfish will be the dominant focus of the English sector, and while these are grown elsewhere in the UK, there is a specific need to develop techniques, cultivation methods and technology that can fit with the unique nature of the English coastline and its existing uses.

Alongside the development of seaweed and shellfish farming techniques the EAS and the DMS both highlight the predicated increase in Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) production, where fish and shellfish are grown in tanks on land or in ports. This emerging area of aquaculture production will rely on new technology and energy sources to produce affordable, sustainable seafood grown close to towns and cities, reducing carbon food miles, and helping achieve the UK Government’s targets for Net Zero Emissions and food security.

Dorset has a good aquaculture sector and has been recognised by the Department for International Trade with the award of a High Potential Opportunity (HPO) for sustainable aquaculture. The HPO is supported by the Dorset LEP and Dorset Council with the

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Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture aquaculture sector being recognised locally as having the ability to provide rural and coastal community jobs across the county.

We believe these initiatives speak well to the Foundations’ priority under Communities “Community driven enterprise and regeneration” •

Explore the two CLAMS which are currently dormant and unfunded in Northern Ireland with a view to documenting, understanding and sharing the concept more widely. Why are they dormant and unfunded?

6.2 Create evidence that illustrates how development of a meaningful and thriving 21st century aquaculture and shellfish sector could benefit the UK, and seek to have them recognised as critical food systems Working with the Shellfish Association of GB, Fishmongers’ Company, and the Seafood 2040 Aquaculture group, with academia and other experts as appropriate, develop a compellingly, thought provoking, paper that highlights the benefits of aquaculture to UK government and the UK population: low impact nutritious food, food security, jobs, alternative ‘land’ use (RAS), potential biofuels, carbon sequestration, climate change mitigator and restorative systems.

Currently aquaculture and shellfish, with the exception of salmon farming in Scotland, is seen as a small sector of little benefit to the UK as a whole. It is paid ‘lip service’ by HMG, based on its historic contribution to UK nutrition, exports and jobs. Post Brexit, where the most fiscally valuable of these has been put in peril, it will likely be paid even less attention as government battles with Covid, Brexit fall out and a fragile economy.

Aquaculture supporters are currently fighting immediate battles of regulation and it is proposed HMG are unaware of how aquaculture can provide a range of positive benefits that address both a number of the UK’s social and environmental challenges.

It is proposed therefore to bring together a working group to draw up a white paper which provides a range of scenarios for the future of UK aquaculture and shellfish cultivation clearly showing the socio-economic and environmental benefits. The paper shoulddemonstrate the real and important benefits using current science and a visionary approach. It should propose scenarios for the next 5 and 10 years, a detailed paper proposing species, siting, investment, training and regulation needed, while highlighting technology and collaboration needs.

Timelines and metrics should be offered.

By raising aquaculture up the political food narrative – in line with global thinking – the UK can become less dependent on imports and exports of seafood through enabling conditions within which the sector can thrive, attracting investment and benefiting local communities, often in remote, agricultural and coastal areas. Further it can demonstrate best practice aquaculture systems and technologies that can produce low impact protein and nutrition which can be produced such that they support climate change and carbon reduction targets.

We notice the Foundation’s central strategy of offering forward-looking solutions with potential for systemic change and reflecting the complexity of the systems that we want to see changed. Accordingly, we believe this initiatives would speak well to the Foundation’s Page 63

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture central strategy and has potential to, at least, create new and meaningful dialogue about what the aquaculture and shellfish sector can do, how that can happen and what changes need to take place.

• • • •

Offer forward-looking solutions based on opportunity, partnership, and with potential for leverage and systemic change. reflect the interconnected nature and complexity of the systems that we want to see changed. are coherent and purposeful without being prescriptive and programmatic. push on an open or emerging policy door, devolution agenda, movement for change or business practice.

6.3 A mix of the two activities We very much encourage the Foundation to consider bringing together a working group, as above, to develop a paper that clearly and compellingly demonstrates what the UK aquaculture and shellfish sector could look like, and the benefits, over the next 5 and 10years, which whatever strategy is decided upon. This could be a meaningful and game changing piece of work that we believe would be welcomed by the entire sector, from the interviews and research carried out.

This paper could be combined with supporting some of the forward-thinking projects underway in particular those that are working toward restorative, low impact, nutritionproduction, and those known to have carbon sequestration benefits. These might be used as show case examples in the paper or as part of communications on positive food systems, ensuring that seafood is better included as a food system.

If the Foundation were to commit to an Aquaculture strategy, potentially as part of addressing building carbon stores, sustainable and ethical food, as well as those sited in the Fishing and Farming goals as noted below: • • • •

Seafood consumed in the UK comes from well-managed stocks.

Existing traditional coastal communities are sustained, and the economy of smallfishing communities is revived The benefits, including health benefits, of sustainable farming are widely recognised.

More people have access to and buy locally produced food.

Further we believe these initiatives, on development, use the Foundation Tools effectively: Funding Plus Over the last four years we have developed a capacity building product that we can be proud of and we aim to make sure that it continues to enable the organisations that we support to flourish.

Influencing and Co-Design We have learnt from some of our more strategic relationships and initiatives that when we use our expertise and experience to co-design or be part of a larger initiative, we are often Page 64

Factfinding and Future Prospects in UK Aquaculture likely to have significant, if quiet, influence. This might be in setting more ambitious outcomes, in holding a strong line on mission, in being on advisory or recruitment panels.

Research/Evidence We have seen that where we work with other experts and practitioners in commissioning research and evidence, the ripple effects are much greater than if we do so alone. We do not always have to lead on these initiatives but are involved in their core design and development (see above).

Infrastructure/Intermediaries Through our funding we will support key infrastructure organisations or intermediaries and those who support collaborations through representation. They are often best practice hubs and develop work and strategic partnerships, amplifying the collective voice around an issue.

We will support key infrastructure organisations which contribute to each impact goal, but also those which work across our aims to ensure the independence, capacity and integrity of the charity sector.

Convening/Connecting We have sometimes used our position to convene and connect networks of organisations to meet regularly to foster dialogue, share learning, create joint opportunities and develop new, collective approaches. We support those collaborations that bring together corporate, public and voluntary sectors to work better together to deliver collective change. We are also approached by others who are trying to convene people around a particular issue. In our new strategy we will be open to convening and to be part of other efforts where this supports our strategy and is appropriate.

New ideas Throughout the development of our strategy, we have been told that one of our key strengths is to be open to the new and unusual. This has been described variously as ‘left-field’, ‘punk element’, ‘growing oaks from acorns’. We have also been told that our key strength is also to stick with these ideas through their growing pains. We will support new ideas which contribute to each impact goal, and also those which work across our aims to unblock barriers, test new approaches or build movements for change.

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Annexes Annex A: Survey questions 1. What are the biggest drivers for responsible aquaculture sector growth in the UK? Please pick three for each country of which you have experience 2. UK aquaculture is projected to grow, what do you think is the most important consideration?

3. Which of the following do you regard as being within the scope of the UK Aquaculture Sector?

(Please tick all applicable and note any additions) 4. Who do you consider as the most influential organisations working in the UK aquaculture sector?

5. What do you see as the biggest opportunities to the growth and expansion of responsible UK aquaculture? (Please state which country you are referring) 6. What do you see as the biggest challenges to the growth and expansion of UK aquaculture? Are the barriers country specific or UK wide?

7. How important is it to include responsible aquaculture as a future UK food system?

8. How would you rate the aquaculture regulatory frameworks in terms of encouraging and ease of investing in aquaculture? (0 is too weak and 10 is strong enough) 9. How would you rate the aquaculture regulatory frameworks in terms of environmental management? (0 is too weak and 10 is strong enough) 10. What support are you aware of for the encouragement of UK aquaculture? Please include any relevant hyperlinks (grants, funding, regulations, industry led, local government etc.) and specify relevant country(s) or UK wide.

11. Do you think the government(s), including local, provide policies to enable responsible aquaculture? (Specify to which country(s) you are referring) - If yes, can you give us examples of the policies you have in mind? If no, can you give us examples of policies you think would support growth and expansion of UK aquaculture: 12. Please provide details about any initiatives which you think showcase exceptional examples of UK aquaculture (Please specify which country(s) and provide up to 4 examples) 13. Can you provide examples of good practices and innovation from overseas that might be appropriate for replication in the UK? 14. Which NGOs are you aware of that are actively campaigning on aquaculture in the UK? 15. Do you think there should be more or less NGO activity focussed on UK aquaculture? If so, in what way and in which country(s) or UK wide?

16. Do you think there should be more or less government/ local government activity focussed on UK aquaculture? If so, in what way and in which country(s)?

17. Do you think the domestic market would support UK aquaculture development?

18. What are the key challenges of exporting aquaculture products from the UK? 19. Where do you think the best areas/ sites for responsible UK aquaculture expansion are and why?

(Please state area and country(s)) 20. Where do you think would be inappropriate for responsible UK aquaculture expansion and why?

(Please state area and country(s)) 21. How do you think responsible aquaculture expansion could help local communities?

22. What might be the threats to local communities where aquaculture expansion is planned?

23. Please share any other comments, thoughts, contacts, web links or relevant sources that you think may be important to this project findings (including any literature, research or studies relating to this subject).

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Annex B: References

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2. Avdelas, L., Avdic‐Mravlje, E., Borges Marques, A., Cano, S., Capelle, J., Carvalho, N., Cozzolino, M., Dennis, J., Ellis, T., Fernández Polanco, J., Guillen, J., Lasner, T., Le Bihan, V., Llorente, I., Mol, A., Nicheva, S., Nielsen, R., Oostenbrugge, H., Villasante, S., Visnic, S., Zhelev, K. and Asche, F., 2020. The decline of mussel aquaculture in the European Union: causes, economic impacts and opportunities. Reviews in Aquaculture, 13(1), pp.91-118.

3. British Trout Association, 2021. Trout farming in the UK and its history. [online] Available at: <https://britishtrout.co.uk/about-trout/trout-farming/>.

4. Carrell, 2008. World's first organic cod farm sinks into administration with £40m debt. [online]

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9. Cullen, K., 2021. Revised Seafood 2040 recommendations for 2021 and beyond. Seafish.

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11. Dickins, S., 2021. Brexit: Welsh Shellfish producers facing block on exports to EU. [online] BBC News. Available at: <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55907854>.

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15. Fish Farmer Magazine, 2014. New Forest Barramundi achieves supermarket listing. [online] Fish Farmer Magazine. Available at: <https://www.fishfarmermagazine.com/archive-2/uknew-forest-barramundi-achieves-supermarket-listing-fishupdate-com/>.

16. Fish Farmer Magazine. 2021. More support for Northern Irish aquaculture. [online] Available at: <https://www.fishfarmermagazine.com/news/more-support-for-northern-irishaquaculture/>.

17. Fish Farming Expert, 2020. Aquaculture 'is helping to keep communities alive'. [online] Fishfarmingexpert.com.

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18. FishFarmingExpert, 2021. Norway fisheries minister wants more closed containment. [online] Fishfarmingexpert.com. Available at: <https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/article/norwayfisheries-minister-wants-more-closed-containment/>.

19. Fletcher, R., 2020. Restorative aquaculture: Offshore shellfish. [online] The Fish Site.

Available at: <https://thefishsite.com/articles/restorative-aquaculture-offshore-shellfish>.

20. Fletcher, R., 2021. Startups seek to add dynamism to Welsh aquaculture. [online] Thefishsite.com. Available at: <https://thefishsite.com/articles/startups-aim-to-adddynamism-to-welsh-aquaculture-sector>.

21. Fletcher, R., 2021a. Why Southwest England is emerging as a hotbed of aquacultural innovation. [online] Thefishsite.com. Available at: <https://thefishsite.com/articles/whysouthwest-england-is-emerging-as-a-hotbed-of-aquacultural-innovation>.

22. FloGro Systems, 2021. Farmed Prawns Sustainably Produced in the UK | FloGro Fresh. [online] Available at: <https://flogrosystems.com/our-story/>.

23. Fox, M., Service, M., Moore, H., Dean, M. and Campbell, K., 2019. Barriers and facilitators to shellfish cultivation. Reviews in Aquaculture, 12(1), pp.406-437. Available at: < Page 68

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26. Hambrey, J. and Evans, S., 2016. Aquaculture in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: An Analysis of the Economic Contribution and Value of the Major Sub-Sectors and the Most Important Farmed Species. London: Seafish. Available at: < https://www.seafish.org/document/?id=4382b7aa-ffce-448b-850d-46a8f7959115>.

27. HATCH, 2021. HATCH - Accelerating Sustainable Aquaculture. [online] HATCH Aquaculture Accelerator Program. Available at: <https://www.hatch.blue/>.

28. Holland, J., 2019. A helping hand to lend: UK aquaculture seeks to broaden its horizons. [online] Global Seafood Alliance. Available at: <https://www.globalseafood.org/advocate/ahelping-hand-to-lend-uk-aquaculture-seeks-to-broaden-its-horizons/>.

29. Holmyard, N., 2021. Scotland emulating Norway in its fish-farming regulatory reforms. [online]

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30. Horton, 2021. No routine checkups on welfare of fish at slaughter, officials admit. [online] The Guardian. Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/23/noroutine-checkups-on-welfare-of-fish-at-slaughter-officials-admit>.

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Annex C: Organisations consulted • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

HavSea Coastal Communities Network SAMS Marine Conservation Society Global Salmon Initiative Crown Estate Scotland DAERANI Mowi Sea Farms Ltd Belfast Food Network Fishmongers' Company's Fisheries Charitable Trust Simply Blue Aquaculture Biome Algae Friends of Loch Hourn Aquaculture Industry Wales Fidra The Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation Noola Redclaw Offshore Shellfish SAIC Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland Lloyds Register Scottish Salmon Think-Tank Laid Village Northern Ireland Marine Task Force ISSF RSPCA Assured Friends of the Sound of Jura Seas The Opportunity & The Seaweed Alliance Benchmark Genetics Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) Dorset Cleanerfish Ltd/Jurassic Sea Farms Ltd PML SAIC Othniel Oysters Ltd NatureScot Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust

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