Aquaculture Common Issues Group | Seafish
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Aquaculture Common Issues Group

The Aquaculture Common Issues Group (ACIG) brings people together to discuss environmental, legal and production issues facing UK/overseas aquaculture



The ACIG provides a safe meeting space to discuss the key challenges facing the industry to deliver responsibly farmed finfish and shellfish. People take part to keep-up-to-date with the latest developments, to be part of a cross-industry discussion and listen to the issues raised by other parts of the industry. They can also raise their own issues, network with other people or make new contacts.

The group is led by our industry and we take responsibility for running the ACIG. The Group has met twice a year since 2009. The ACIG brings together people who represent the retail, producers, food service and restaurant industry. Other people who attend are not-for-profit environmental voluntary groups, consumer groups, government, scientists and industry bodies.

There are generally two meetings a year. The presentations and minutes from the most recent meetings are below. Presentations and minutes from previous meetings are available by emailing issuesgroups@seafish.co.uk.

We are running a mix of in person meetings and shorter online bite-size ACIG sessions at the moment.

Next meetings

  • Friday 13th June 2025, AM online
  • Thursday 25th September 2025, in-person
  • Thursday 26th February 2026, AM online

Topics are to be decided. To keep updated, subscribe to our newsletter: 

ACIG bite-size online session ‘Diversifying Production: What’s Next for the UK Aquaculture Market?’ (10th December 2024). This session delved into the ways to bring new species to consumers, what investors and R&D consortiums are looking for when taking on new aquaculture projects, and how existing industries need to adapt in order to meet certification standards.

The following was presented:

  • ASC Feed Standard. Redefining responsible feed for aquaculture. Aisla Jones, Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) 
  • Gaining Value. Mike Spain, Crown Estate Scotland
  • Introduction to modern cod farming, Snow Cod and Norcod. Chris Guldberg, NorCod
  • Supporting the development of sustainable aquatic food systems at the Institute of Aquaculture. Simon MacKenzie, Stirling University

ACIG in person meeting. Aquaculture innovation and supply chain resilience (25th June 2024). This meeting looked closely at innovative approaches to support supply chain resilience in the UK aquaculture sector. The morning session looked at building resilience to address water quality, climate change and welfare issues. The afternoon session focussed on the UK aquaculture market and consumer demand, and the development of innovative new production methods.

The following was presented:

Key issues 

  • Climate change – Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool. Stuart McLanaghan, Seafish.  
  • Animal welfare – Welfare first aquaculture technologies. Tom Cryans, Ace Aquatec.  

Water quality 

  • Improvements in application of the Official Control Regulation (OCR). Lewis LeVay, Bangor University.  
  • How water chemistry conditions influence the performance of the animals being farmed. Rod Wilson, University of Exeter.  
  • New developments in Norovirus testing. Stephanie Anderson, Novacyt.  

Market developments. 

  • The UK aquaculture market and consumer demand. Ekpen Omonbude, Seafish.  

Innovative production  

  • Mussels as a food ingredient – manufacture and environmental implications. Aoife Martin, Seafish.  
  • Innovative approach to clam aquaculture production. David Willer, University of Cambridge.  
  • Latest RAS developments in Grimsby. James Fox Davies, Aquacultured Seafood Limited.  

Notes and minutes from recent ACIG bite-size and in person meetings are available upon request by emailing issuesgroups@seafish.co.uk.

  • Government and policy initiatives to support UK aquaculture. 23 November 2023
  • Aquaculture and human rights. 1 February 2023

ACIG newsletter

We send regular emails with a round up of stories, research and projects in the seafood industry. Subscribe to receive our updates and meeting details.

Terms of Reference and archive

Contacts

For further information please contact issuesgroups@seafish.co.uk

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