UK Aquaculture Market

UK Aquaculture Market Overview:

The UK aquaculture market size reached 2.73 Million Tons in 2024. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach 4.02 Million Tons by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.94% during 2025-2033. The market is experiencing strong growth, driven by supportive government policies, rising demand for sustainable seafood, and innovations in offshore farming. Technological advancements are enhancing production efficiency and environmental performance. The UK aquaculture market share continues to expand steadily, reflecting increased investment and consumer interest in home-grown seafood.

UK Aquaculture Market Trends:

Offshore Finfish Farming Expansion

The UK is increasingly investing in offshore finfish farms, leveraging stronger currents and cleaner waters to improve fish welfare and growth. Innovations such as semi-submersible cages and advanced mooring systems enhance resilience in rough-sea conditions. Meanwhile, real-time sensors for water quality and automated feeding systems improve yield and reduce environmental impact. Regulatory encouragement for marine aquaculture projects further accelerates deployment. For instance, the recent India-UK trade deal strengthens seafood trade ties as the UK expands offshore finfish farming, emphasizing sustainable, high-quality production. In 2024–25, UK imports of Indian marine products reached $104 Million, led by frozen shrimp at $80 Million. This aligns with the UK's push for traceable, welfare-focused seafood, supported by innovations like automated feeding and real-time water quality monitoring. Combined with India's MoU with the Maldives on marine infrastructure, these shifts support scalable, sustainable aquaculture to meet evolving market demands.

Increased Investment in Research and Development (R&D)

The UK aquaculture market growth is being driven by a strategic shift, driven by increased investment in research, technology, and sustainable practices. With the launch of the £18 Million National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub (NATIH) at the University of Stirling in November 2024, the sector is poised to enhance productivity and reduce environmental impact. This development aligns with government efforts to expand the blue economy, create skilled jobs, and position the UK as a global leader in sustainable seafood. Coupled with advancements in offshore finfish farming, real-time water monitoring, and data-driven aquaculture management, the industry is rapidly modernizing. These initiatives support long-term food security, meet growing consumer demand for traceable, eco-friendly seafood, and strengthen the UK's export potential in a competitive global market.

UK Aquaculture Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the region/country level for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on fish type, environment, and distribution channel.

Fish Type Insights:

• Freshwater Fish
• Molluscs
• Crustaceans
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the fish type. This includes freshwater fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and others.

Environment Insights:

• Fresh Water
• Marine Water
• Brackish Water

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the environment have also been provided in the report. This includes fresh water, marine water, and brackish water.

Distribution Channel Insights:

• Traditional Retail
• Supermarkets and Hypermarkets
• Specialized Retailers
• Online Stores
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the distribution channel. This includes traditional retail, supermarkets and hypermarkets, specialized retailers, online stores, and others.

Regional Insights: 

• London 
• South East 
• North West 
• East of England 
• South West 
• Scotland 
• West Midlands 
• Yorkshire and The Humber 
• East Midlands 
• Others 

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include London, South East, North West, East of England, South West, Scotland, West Midlands, Yorkshire and The Humber, East Midlands, and others. 

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

UK Aquaculture Market News:

• In June 2024, UK-based startup Aqsen Innovations trailed its aquaculture sensor system, Aquasense, on Lake Victoria to help fish farmers monitor water quality in real time. Previously tested in Uganda and India, the technology tracks temperature, oxygen, salinity, and chemicals, sending instant alerts to improve fish health and reduce losses. This aligns with rising aquaculture investments in the Lake Victoria Basin, where production has grown significantly.
• In May 2024, BIO-UV Group, a French water treatment specialist, supplied 16 ozone disinfection units through its UK-based subsidiary, Triogen®, to salmon farms in Scotland. The units, including the latest PPO3 ozone generators, were manufactured at Triogen’s East Kilbride facility. With over 35 years of expertise in UV and ozone technology, the company plays a key role in supporting fish health and water quality. The move comes as Scottish salmon remains the UK’s top food export.

UK Aquaculture Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the UK aquaculture market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the UK aquaculture market on the basis of fish type?
• What is the breakup of the UK aquaculture market on the basis of environment?
• What is the breakup of the UK aquaculture market on the basis of distribution channel?
• What is the breakup of the UK aquaculture market on the basis of region?
• What are the varioUK stages in the value chain of the UK aquaculture market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the UK aquaculture market?
• What is the structure of the UK aquaculture market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the UK aquaculture market? 

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of varioUK market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the UK aquaculture market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the UK aquaculture market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the UK aquaculture industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.