Seafood for the Future: UK hosts conference showcasing seafood industry innovation
4 March 2025
The latest innovations helping to make the seafood industry more productive, sustainable and profitable were showcased at a global conference at the Royal Society in London on Tuesday 25th, and Wednesday 26th February 2025.
Nearly 200 industry leaders, researchers and innovators from across the world came together for Seafood Innovation 2025.
The event was jointly hosted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), and Seafish.
The event featured engaging panel discussion and project showcases exploring research and innovation in fisheries, aquaculture and across the wider seafood supply chain, and discussed their potential to support a sustainable and resilient seafood industry and deliver on wider food security needs. The projects highlighted were funded under the UK Seafood Innovation Fund (SIF) programme and Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships (FISP) scheme .
Since its launch, SIF has invested over £17 million in 115 projects spanning fisheries, aquaculture, processing, and the supply chain. Similarly, FISP has allocated £13 million to 41 projects to support a sustainable and productive seafood industry.
Innovations included selective fishing gear technologies that reduce by-catch and discards; approaches to enhancing fish welfare in aquaculture; “super-cooling” of fish to extend its product life as it travels from catch to plate; and breakthroughs in seafood packaging which support use-by dates by allowing consumers to gauge the freshness of their food.
The event included a keynote address from Daniel Zeichner MP, Fisheries Minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Minister Zeichner said: “The breadth and depth of innovation we've witnessed at this event demonstrates the UK's position at the forefront of sustainable seafood development.”
Neil Hornby, Chief Executive of Cefas, said: "The partnerships formed during this event will be instrumental in driving forward innovation across the seafood sector. We've seen remarkable examples of how technology can help us build a more sustainable and efficient future for the sector."
Aoife Martin, Director of Operations at Seafish, commented: "Advancing new technologies, techniques, and approaches in seafood production is crucial for building a sustainable, productive, and profitable industry. The challenges faced by the UK seafood sector are shared by many countries, making global collaboration essential. Seafood Innovation 2025 brought together delegates from around the world, providing a unique opportunity to hear first-hand how different nations are tackling climate change, sustainability, and productivity - delivering invaluable insights for the future of the industry."
For more information regarding Seafood Innovation 2025, please contact: kerry.ianson@cefas.gov.uk / gemma.loveday@cefas.gov.uk
Further information about the UK Seafood Innovation Fund, can be found here: Home - Seafood Innovation Fund
For further information about the Fisheries Industry Science Partnership Scheme (FISP), can be found here: UK Seafood Fund: Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships scheme - GOV.UK
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