Seafish sets out how UK seafood can rise to global challenges
The UK seafood sector faces a rapidly changing global landscape, with opportunities for growth being matched by rising costs, trade uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, climate change and a growing need for skills and investment.
That was the message from Seafish CEO Colin Faulkner, who outlined the organisation’s response to the challenges facing the industry during his presentation at the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) Annual Conference.
Under the title ‘Rising to global challenges in the seafood sector: Seafish’s role’, Colin highlighted the scale of the opportunity for UK seafood while stressing the need for businesses, government and industry organisations to work together to navigate an increasingly complex trading environment.
A global market offering opportunities for UK seafood
Colin began by focusing on the potential for growth in the global seafood marketplace, drawing on the latest FAO State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report.
For the UK, the message is clear: there is international demand for seafood, and the country already has products capable of competing in global markets.
Seafish trade data highlighted the strength of the UK’s shellfish export sector. Shellfish accounted for 25% of total UK seafood export value in 2025, while exports recorded the second-highest value growth of any major seafood category, behind pelagic exports.
Within shellfish, export value increased by £30.2 million during 2025, driven particularly by scallops, octopus and nephrops. The EU, United States and South Korea were among the important destinations for this growth.
For Colin, this demonstrates that the UK has a product that is wanted internationally – but taking advantage of that opportunity will depend on businesses being able to identify markets, overcome trade barriers and respond to changing consumer and regulatory requirements.
Whilst not the sole focus of the organisation, Seafish is placing a concentrated effort on helping exporters identify and access new target markets, supporting the removal of trade barriers and providing guidance on tariffs and regulations.
A sector under pressure from rising costs
While the international opportunity is significant, the presentation also recognised the pressures being experienced across the UK food and seafood supply chain.
Energy, transport and plastic packaging costs are contributing to food price inflation, while imported seafood prices continue to rise.
The energy challenge is particularly significant for seafood and food businesses. Colin highlighted that food and drink is the UK’s largest energy-consuming manufacturing industry, at a time when food sales volumes remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Geopolitical developments are adding another layer of uncertainty. The presentation pointed to the impact of the war in Iran and the continuing effects of the war in Ukraine, alongside disruption and volatility in international markets.
The United States is another significant factor. As the world’s largest seafood importer, changes in US tariff policy have the potential to influence global seafood trade flows. Colin highlighted proposals announced in June 2026 that included additional tariffs on seafood-producing and exporting countries including Norway, Vietnam, India, Brazil and Chile, as well as duties affecting imports from the EU and other major trading partners.
Climate change adds another layer of uncertainty
The presentation also looked beyond trade and economic pressures to the changing marine environment.
The UK was experiencing a significant marine heatwave in summer 2026, while internationally a ‘super’ El Niño was expected towards the end of the year and into early 2027.
The implications for fisheries and aquaculture could be considerable. Seafish highlighted evidence that El Niño events have affected marine fisheries across 11 of the 19 FAO Major Fishing Areas, demonstrating the potential scale of climate-related disruption to seafood production.
For a sector already dealing with fluctuating stocks, changing consumer demand, costs and international markets, climate variability adds yet another factor that businesses need to anticipate.
Seafish’s role in supporting the industry
Against this backdrop, Colin outlined Seafish’s 2026-27 Annual Plan and stressed that it is intended to provide direction while allowing the organisation to respond as circumstances change.
The plan is built around three strategic outcomes: a safe and skilled workforce; smoother and expanding seafood trade; and a resilient supply chain.
Under the workforce priority, Seafish will focus on issues including spatial squeeze, labour shortages and fishing safety, while supporting catching, aquaculture and onshore businesses to attract and retain domestic workers.
That includes training, safety refreshers, career pathways, apprenticeships, online learning and tailored industry training.
Trade will be another major area of activity.
Seafish plans to help exporters identify new markets, address trade barriers and navigate tariffs and regulations. It will also support seafood businesses in complying with UK trade regulations and help aquaculture businesses deal with an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
The organisation will also work with industry and government partners to position UK seafood businesses in priority international markets, with market development activity aligned to confirmed funding.
Building a more resilient supply chain
The third strategic outcome focuses on resilience, including the industry’s response to climate change and the transition towards net zero.
One priority is expanding the use of Seafish’s Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool (SCEPT) to help more businesses understand and manage greenhouse gas emissions across the seafood supply chain.
Seafish also intends to support better investment decisions around the transition to net zero through integrated mapping of ports, vessel activity and renewable fuel infrastructure.
Other priorities include improving alignment between traceability, supply chain integrity, responsible sourcing and gear innovation, while bringing industry, researchers and regulators together through cross-sector forums.
Market intelligence will also remain central, with Seafish aiming to help businesses respond to rapid changes in retail and food service through timely and accessible market insights.
Data at the heart of decision-making
Colin’s presentation underlined the importance of reliable data and evidence in helping the sector navigate uncertainty.
Seafish’s ambition is to become the UK’s “go-to hub for seafood data and insights”, providing trusted evidence to help businesses make better decisions and support innovation across the industry.
That role is particularly important at a time when businesses are having to make decisions against a backdrop of rapidly changing trade policy, costs, climate conditions, regulation and consumer markets.
The overall message from the presentation was therefore not simply one of challenges, but of opportunity. The UK has seafood products that are in demand internationally, but unlocking further growth will require businesses to be equipped with the information, skills, market access and support needed to operate in an increasingly complex global environment.
For Seafish, that means providing practical support across the supply chain – from fishing safety and skills to trade, market development, carbon reduction, regulation and data – while continuing to adapt its approach as the external environment changes.
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