The UK aquaculture industry

Aquaculture has the potential to match the shortfall between supply and demand whilst reducing the pressure on wild fisheries.

Given the strong likelihood that seafood landings will remain constant in capture fisheries, aquaculture provides the means to expand world supplies. Around 47 per cent of all fish directly consumed by humans worldwide is produced in aquaculture, with this figure set to rise to 50 per cent in the next few years.

The majority of UK food finfish aquaculture is located in Scotland, but it is increasing in Wales and England. Shellfish culture is spread more evenly throughout the UK. 

The main finfish species farmed in the UK is salmon, which is mostly centred in Scotland. The other main species are trout and halibut. There have also been attempts to farm cod, turbot, sea bass and tilapia. The main shellfish species farmed in the UK are mussels, Pacific oysters, European oysters, King and Queen scallops and clams.

In 2006, the Scottish aquaculture was estimated to be worth more than £400 million to the economy. The farmgate value of fish farming in England and Wales was estimated at £23.5 million in 2006. In 2007, shellfish production from aquaculture was estimated at £23 million, most of which came from mussels.

Generally speaking, fish and shellfish are farmed in ponds or tanks or supported in structures or confined in cages or nets in lakes or coastal waters.
-    mussels and oysters are grown on the bottom or on suspended ropes or racks;
-    most marine fish are raised in net pens in coastal waters; and
-    Warm water prawns (king prawns) are farmed in large ponds in coastal areas.

For further information see:

The Seafish Guide to Aquaculture

An overview of English Aquaculture CEFAS. February 2011