Five key trends in the UK seafood supply chain in 2024

Senior Economic Researcher Sheriene Murphy brings us the five key trends that influenced seafood businesses, shaped supply and demand and could give us clues about what end of year 2025 will look like.

1. Global events caused ripple effects at home 

Major international events disrupted global supply chains in 2024 and the UK seafood sector also felt an impact. 

• The CrowdStrike update in July 2024 caused technical issues for Windows users across the world. While it lasted only a few days, it affected port operations and disrupted some supply chain activities. 
• Red Sea shipping delays caused by conflict in the Middle East led to slower deliveries, though the effects on UK consumers were limited. 
• The Ukraine war continued to affect energy markets. While prices steadied somewhat, UK supermarkets made moves to remove Russian whitefish from their own-label products, forcing suppliers to rethink their sourcing. 
• US election debates on tariffs and trade sparked concerns over possible changes in global seafood trade in 2025. 

2. UK politics and economy influenced businesses and consumers 

The July 2024 UK elections led to a change in government and meant a shift in some key policy priorities. There was a push for more development of offshore wind farms, which raised concerns among fishermen about losing access to fishing grounds. 

While inflation in the UK eased over the year, food and energy prices stayed higher than pre-pandemic levels, meaning households continued to watch their spending in supermarkets and restaurants. 

On the upside, the UK economy grew +1.1%, which meant improved business development and employment opportunities. The outlook for 2025 suggests a similar level of growth. 

3. Staffing shortages continued across the supply chain 

Fishing and processing businesses employing large groups of foreign workers continued to adapt to changes to Skilled Worker Visa (SWV) requirements. They have also undertaken initiatives to attract more local staff, but competition from sectors like aquaculture and wind farms is strong. 

On the market side, the competition to recruit is also high. Supermarkets were offering wages above the national living wage, and the foodservice sector looked to expand apprenticeships to attract and retain staff. 

Staffing is a major cost for many businesses, and attracting and retaining skilled staff will remain essential in 2025. 

4. Sustainability matters more than ever 

The importance of environmental sustainability is a factor in every sector of the supply chain. 

• On the supply side, there was talk of quota negotiation to avoid overfishing and improved certification of stocks to ensure sustainable environmental practices and improved fish welfare. 
• On the market side, businesses need to demonstrate they are taking a role in providing responsibly sourced products to consumers.  
• Consumers are also asking more questions about where their food comes from, looking for assurance that the seafood they buy is responsibly sourced products. 

5. Consumer demand drives supply growth 

What shoppers choose to buy still plays a big role in shaping the industry. 

• Growth in consumption of the nation’s favourite species, especially tuna, shrimp and prawn, help to drive imports. Salmon continues to dominate retail shelves in 2024.  
• With cost-of-living pressures still present, consumers leaned into promotions and loyalty schemes in retail, as well as deals in foodservice. 
• Cheaper whitefish was used more in food products, showing how businesses adapted to offer lower-cost options. 
• Exports also remained strong, with species like salmon, mackerel, Nephrops, whelks and scallops popular in international markets. Demand from abroad continues to support UK fishing, processing and export businesses.