Low Tides, High Impact: Surveying the seas off Keyhaven

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Back in September, my husband and I joined an intertidal survey with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. With a huge interest in marine life, and aquaculture and fisheries a key part of my work, I was really excited for the occasion. Our task was to join a team of other marine enthusiasts in Keyhaven to help spot and identify as many plants and animals as possible at low tide.

For those not familiar with Keyhaven, this fishing hamlet lies at one end of a mile-long, shingle bank called Hurst Spit, which runs south, dividing the Solent waters to create a calm lagoon on the eastern side. It’s fronted by the Keyhaven marshes, a low-lying area of wetland grasses.

Before we started, Caitlin, our organiser, gave a short briefing with instructions on how the survey would unfold and how to record our findings. Caitlin and her team also gave us all the equipment we needed, from ID guides, clipboards, and species identification books, to pens, pencils and even gloves. Everything was explained clearly in a fun and engaging way. We were then put into groups and given positions – one photographer and the rest of us identifiers. After that we were good to go, and set out on the short walk from the car park to the sea.

The low tide was the perfect time for volunteers to gather and comb the area for a species count. After splitting the shore into three zones – upper, middle and lower — using coloured buckets, we started our search on the upper shore, taking our time as we made our way towards the sea (lower shore), and recording everything we found from barnacles and sea anemones to tiny crabs and spongy seaweed, taking pictures to allow others to clearly identify our findings. We were blessed not only with Caitlin’s extensive knowledge but also with fellow volunteer Helen’s vast experience and tools, including a magnifying glass and a collection of small dishes so we could have a good look at really tiny species. With my phone in one hand and a couple of ID guides in the other, I found myself crouching beside tide pools, taking photos and talking to the other volunteers about what the different species might be. It felt like a treasure hunt guided by science, and that’s what this kind of volunteering does – it teaches you to look closer, slow down and really see what’s out there.

As the survey continued, the findings got more and more exciting. A hooded prawn, brittle star, scallop, hairy hermit crab…all new finds were photographed and shared with as many volunteers as possible. Excited voices overlapped as different seaweeds were compared, crabs and shellfish identified, and unexpected finds celebrated. There was a really nice sense of shared discovery throughout, moments of joy, curiosity, collaboration, and the thrill of turning over a rock to reveal something new.

One of the best things about intertidal surveys is the sense of connection and understanding among the volunteers. It’s really enjoyable and also rewarding – surveys like this help scientists monitor the health of our marine ecosystems. By tracking which species are present and where, we can also help scientists better understand how things like pollution, climate change and invasive species may be affecting our coasts, and of course we can learn something new too. It’s real science, and we can be a part of it. There are also no expectations — no experience is required, everyone is friendly and welcoming, and there is always someone around to answer questions. I had a fantastic time identifying different species, taking photographs, and getting to know the other volunteers and their backgrounds. Intertidal surveys are a great way to explore our local coast, learn more about the wildlife there and add to our understanding of this important habitat.

Next time you’re walking by the sea, take a closer look – you might just find your new favourite hobby!

How ocean farming can coexist with marine biodiversity

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Earlier this month, Mowi Scotland sent me a press release and some underwater photographs taken around its salmon farm at Loch Hourn. The images were taken by a dive team from Tritonia Scientific, an independent marine survey consultancy, after Loch Hourn was the subject of a recent environmental pollution report. They show how a huge range of species is thriving, with the seabed and mooring lines teeming with life from feather stars, kelp and sponges to squirts, jellyfish, wrasse and anemones.

The press release also included some comments from Stephen MacIntyre, Head of Environment at Mowi Scotland.

“Protecting our marine environment is at the heart of everything we do,” he said. “That’s why we commissioned an independent environmental survey of the seabed and waters around our salmon farm at Loch Hourn.”

“There are a lot of misconceptions around the environmental effects of fish farming, with rush to judge and apportion cause and effect,” he continued.” In response, it’s important we acknowledge such concerns but that we also investigate, monitor and transparently present observational field data to inform more reasoned opinions. At Mowi, we are committed to responsible and sustainable operations that ensure we meet our environmental standards and thresholds. We take any concerns that we are not operating to those standards seriously. When claims were made that our farm was harming the loch, we investigated. The results are clear: salmon farming in Loch Hourn is not damaging the marine ecosystem. In fact, it’s coexisting with it.”

“The photos definitely speak for themselves. This is what responsible fish farming looks like in a well-managed environment,” MacIntyre concluded.

Fish farming is a huge food production sector that contributes to the global economy, food safety and more specifically to rural development in coastal areas where employment opportunities are often limited, e.g. islands. However, with the global push towards sustainable development and blue growth, understanding and addressing the environmental impacts of fish farming is crucial. We often hear about its negative impacts, such as water pollution from the release and accumulation of waste, the transmission of disease, escapes and the use of antibiotics and chemicals. However, when done wisely, fish farming can be part of the solution, slowing or stopping the negative impacts and helping to restore ecosystems. As Mowi Scotland’s photos show, Atlantic salmon and the wider ecosystem in Loch Hourn can flourish side by side. This is just one of many examples of how offshore fish farms can co-exist alongside, and significantly benefit, marine life.

In the Mediterranean, finfish, in particular bluefin tuna farming, is one of the most common types of aquaculture. There, one study confirms the benefits of fish farms to the surrounding marine environment. Researchers at the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in Split, Croatia, say that wild fish aggregations near caged farms can persist year-round due to abundant food supplies. Fish are also attracted by additional structures that provide protection and numerous favourable habitats for juveniles. According to the researchers, this impact of aquaculture on marine life can be considered positive as it enables adults to be in good condition for future spawning, while artificial nursery grounds can be provided for juveniles that inhabit areas within aquaculture installations. Considering the fact that each fish farm represents additional nutrient/energy input into the surrounding ecosystem, the role of wild marine biota aggregated around farming sites is also important in preventing local degradation of the environment.

The study concludes by saying that well-balanced, properly managed marine aquaculture operations should not significantly alter the surrounding environment. It adds that identifying potentially suitable areas for fish farming should take into account the ecological, technological, economic and socio-cultural impacts of different locations to avoid any environmental pressures.

Researchers at the University of Michigan agree that carefully managed farms make it possible to farm more food from the sea while reducing any negative impacts on biodiversity. In order to predict the impact of increased seafood production, the researchers built a model to determine the effect of offshore farms on over 20,000 species of marine fauna, and how this could change by 2050 depending on what was farmed and where. They found that building farms in the most eco-friendly areas led to promising results for both fish and shellfish. Bivalve production could increase by 2.36-fold and finfish production by 1.82-fold compared to current production, while global farming impacts would decrease by up to 30.5 percent under the best-case scenario. The researchers also point to the importance of strategic planning when installing farms and working with experts from various fields who can assess a wide range of considerations.

Shellfish aquaculture is also deemed as having positive effects on the marine environment. Not only is it able to improve water quality by assimilating nutrients from surrounding waters, but it also provides habitats to juvenile fish in areas where oyster reefs, algae ecosystems or seagrass beds have degraded. Compared to fish, shellfish typically do not require any chemical treatments such as high amounts of antibiotics. One of my favourite examples of shellfish farming improving ocean health and biodiversity is mussels. These can be grown on ropes suspended in the water, resulting in little to no habitat disruption. Because they feed naturally by filtering algae and other plankton, they also play a key role in improving the quality of the surrounding water. In addition, by creating biogenic reefs on the seafloor from clumps and shells, it’s possible to attract a range of species from demersal fish to macroalgae and mobile benthic invertebrates. Studies in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf also show that mussel farms not only support marine biodiversity but also increase wild fish populations. Research at the University of Auckland has revealed that marine species near mussel farms display greater diversity and abundance. Fish also appear to consume more nutritious diets near farm sites, suggesting that mussel farms can bolster biodiversity and fisheries productivity when implemented in the right locations.

These examples represent a paradigm shift in farming at sea, transforming it from a potential environmental threat into a tool for increased biodiversity and restoration. As aquaculture expands and we look to the future of sustainable, responsible seafood production, fish and shellfish farming stand out as promising solutions, acting as biodiversity hotspots, nurseries and places of refuge for a variety of species. With continued research and development, they have the potential to make a difference by playing key parts in the production of sustainable protein and contributing to marine conservation objectives. This, in turn, is likely to greatly boost social and economic benefits in certain areas. Hopefully, these efforts will continue and we reach a future where more fish and shellfish farms help restore and protect marine biodiversity while feeding the world.

How aquaculture can restore mangroves

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Mangrove forests are one of the world’s most productive ecosystems. They are huge biodiversity hotspots, providing habitats for various species and supporting coastal communities by protecting them from storm surges, erosion and tropical storms. They are also a vast carbon sink that can store up to five times more carbon per acre compared to rainforests.

However, mangroves have been declining significantly over the years. By the end of the 1990s, global mangrove cover was estimated to have decreased by 35%. This was followed by a further 2.1% (3,363km²) decline between 2000 and 2016. The cause is primarily due to human activity, such as forest clearing and exploitation for timber production and raw materials, rapid coastal population growth, urban expansion and conversion to agriculture and aquaculture. In fact, growing aquaculture development has resulted in swaths of mangroves being converted into shrimp ponds to meet the rising global demand for farmed shrimp.

Shrimp farms have long been accused of widespread mangrove destruction, but is this claim a fair one? This month, I took a deep dive into shrimp farming and mangrove deforestation and discovered some good news — that transformation is possible. Many countries, NGOs and private firms are actively looking for better ways to farm shrimp while safeguarding and replanting mangroves. I discovered a range of initiatives to establish tools and frameworks for environmentally responsible shrimp production and the farming of other species. The aim of these initiatives is to plant and restore mangroves through responsible farming, allowing mangrove ecosystems to flourish and provide a host of benefits.

Ecuador and Indonesia are two countries that have experienced rapid mangrove loss over the years. According to the National Coordinating Corporation for the Defence of the Mangrove Ecosystem of Ecuador, more than 70% of mangroves have been destroyed to make way for shrimp ponds. Meanwhile in Indonesia, 800,000 ha have been converted mainly into shrimp ponds over the past 30 years.

However, shrimp farming in both countries plays a prominent role in global shrimp production and exports. It is also key to supporting small farmers, and this is where Conservation International comes in. This US NPO has developed an approach to farming shrimp that can help boost yields while restoring mangroves. The approach is to take half of a shrimp farm and restore it as a mangrove forest, while helping farmers increase their output on the rest. With pilot programmes in Ecuador and Indonesia, financing and technical expertise are provided to help farmers produce more shrimp, increase profits and restore mangroves. A loan fund is also being set up so that farmers can transition to more efficient production systems, while AI-based tools help to identify optimal sites for mangrove restoration.

Shrimp farming in Indonesia, while economically significant, faces several issues and challenges that have emerged as a result of its rapid development. These include disease outbreaks, massive shrimp mortality and economic losses, and water quality degradation due to the accumulation of organic matter and other pollutants in pond water and surrounding areas. In light of this, researchers are studying a mangrove-friendly shrimp farming model called silvo-fishery, which brings shrimp farming and mangrove restoration together in a low-intensity manner. The idea is to reduce environmental impacts, preserve biodiversity, and enhance carbon sequestration. According to Esti Handayani Hardi, professor at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences at Mulawarman University, the practice promotes a more responsible and productive system by enhancing the natural ecosystem and improving livelihoods. She says that it offers a “win-win scenario” for more effective and sustainable mangrove rehabilitation and shrimp farming.

India, too, has been accused of mangrove destruction through its expansion of shrimp farming, especially along the east coast. But the country is dedicating extensive research, money and time into finding better ways to farm shrimp while increasing mangrove replanting efforts. The Swaminathan Foundation is a research institution in Chennai with a focus on sustainable rural development. Since 1993, it’s been working in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha on the east coast, where the majority of India’s shrimp farms are concentrated, and where shrimp farms and mangroves have long competed for scarce land along coastal creeks and riversides. Meanwhile, under a new initiative in the Sundarbans called Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystem (SAIME), farmers are rearing black tiger shrimp. The aim of the project is to establish a model to demonstrate biodiversity-friendly aquaculture that will build a resilient ecosystem, and identify the extent to which blue carbon emissions associated with brackish water aquaculture could be reduced by integrating mangroves into shrimp farms.

It was also encouraging to hear that other types of aquaculture are doing their part, too. Back in May, I chatted to Megan Sorby, Co-Founder and CEO of Pine Island Redfish, a redfish farm in Florida that’s created a sustainable, circular food system with fish waste. The farm’s recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) produces redfish and repurposes fish waste to cultivate red mangroves and nutrient-rich plants, such as sea purslane and barilla. After discovering that the nutrient profile of the waste from their farm is ideal for growing mangroves, Sorby and her team joined forces with an environmental apparel company to do their part. They collect mangrove seeds, which are nurtured in Pine Island Redfish’s nursery spaces, and transplant them along the west coast of Florida.

“We can monitor and manage the waste nutrients that go into the mangroves very effectively, in other words fine-tune the waste to ensure that the mangroves grow in the most efficient way,” Sorby told me. “It’s very powerful to be able to say that we are using waste from farming redfish to grow plants that act as a nursery for juvenile redfish in the wild.”

These initiatives prove that systemic transformation is possible, and it’s great to see positive trends that could act as examples for other species and regions that are facing similar challenges. Through efforts to protect ecosystems like mangroves, people in coastal regions can safeguard their natural resources and livelihoods, while such efforts also contribute to other areas like emissions reductions and blue carbon. Supporting these types of initiative is imperative for creating long-term, responsible solutions that contribute to even better farming and environmental conservation.

Looking Back on Ocean

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Since its release in May 2025, Sir David Attenborough’s new documentary, Ocean, has been generating discussions on a host of issues related to the plight of our seas. After watching it myself, I can see why it’s provoked such a significant response. It’s a celebration of marine life and a stark reminder of the threats facing the ocean today.

The aims of Ocean are clear – to protect the seas and send a message of hope. The documentary does an impressive job of demonstrating how almost every marine ecosystem is capable of regenerating in months or years. The messaging on the ocean’s resilience, capability for abundance and capacity to bounce back is encouraging. Ocean is also beautifully shot, with incredible scenes of kelp forests, coral reefs and brutal images of bycatch. Like many of Attenborough’s documentaries, I really enjoyed this footage, which captures the beauty and rich diversity of the seas so well while describing the far-reaching effects of losing both and the importance of taking steps to move in the right direction. Attenborough also says that knowledge is important for change. Ocean offers viewers a lot of important information that gives them plenty to think about and discuss.

One issue that the documentary hones in on is the destruction caused by bottom trawling. Footage of the practice and its effects are shocking. There is also a focus on scallop dredging and bycatch-heavy hauls where the bycatch is simply discarded. It’s a dark visual representation of commercial fishing, and the message behind it is powerful. As discussions over the documentary continue, there will undoubtedly be significant impacts on consumer trust towards seafood and public perceptions of commercial fishing.

There is no doubt that this kind of destruction needs to be highlighted, and Ocean raises key questions about how certain fishing methods are carried out and where they occur. However, the portrayal of bottom trawling and scallop dredging could benefit from additional context, and it was a shame that no fishermen or fisheries scientists were featured. Ocean makes many important points about the need to protect the sea and its fish stocks, and the debate around marine protection is essential. However, there was no mention of the people who work on fishing vessels every day or an introduction to the latest research by fisheries scientists. There was also no mention of the many important advances in sustainable fisheries management and fishing practices that are happening today. Through my work, I have come across an array of efforts from seasonal closures, gear modifications, gear that is designed to reduce seabed contact or minimise bycatch, monitoring systems on board vessels, and the use of AI to ensure that the ocean and its inhabitants are free from dangerous items like ghost gear. These are all evidence of a strong commitment to try and improve sustainability and establish well-managed fisheries.

The UK public body Seafish says that in the UK, bottom trawling is managed as part of a broader fisheries management framework to ensure that impacts on fish stocks and marine ecosystems are avoided, mitigated or remedied. Seafish offers information on temporary, seasonal or permanent closures of fishing areas if there are concerns over marine conservation, and highlights the role of trawl fisheries in supporting coastal communities and fishing on grounds that have been fished for generations. Earlier this month, the UK also outlined plans to ban bottom trawling in more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to protect habitats and support important marine species such as lobster, clams and langoustine. Meanwhile, The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) also monitors bottom trawling worldwide and publishes independent assessments of the impact on seabed habitats.

The UK is also aware of the issues surrounding scallop dredging and is working towards better management in this fishery. Two years ago, consultations were held on a king scallop fisheries management plan in England and Wales. Stakeholders discussed the introduction of dredge restrictions to protect scallop stocks, reduce any impact on the seabed and other marine species, and ensure the scallop industry’s future economic security. There was also a desire for king scallop stocks to be better understood, to identify interactions with the wider marine environment.

Professor Ray Hilborn, a marine biologist and fisheries scientist at the University of Washington, shared his opinion on Ocean in his latest newsletter, which I read after viewing the documentary. He pointed out that although unregulated fishing is a threat to marine ecosystems, so too are climate change, pollutants, plastics and terrestrial runoff of nutrients. He also explained that bottom trawling occurs only in a small portion of the global ocean, almost exclusively confined to continental shelves, and in countries with the largest amount of continental shelf — Russia, Canada, the USA, Australia and the Antarctic – the proportion of area trawled is very small. Most bottom trawling also occurs over more resilient environments such as sand, mud and gravel, he said, rather than more sensitive areas such as deep-sea coral or sponge beds. In fact, research shows that benthic communities in more resilient environments recover quickly, especially when trawling is well-managed.

Hilborn concluded by stating that fishing of all forms, including trawling, can be done sustainably, ensuring food production for future generations.

The UK and US are just two tiny examples of awareness towards the negative impacts of bottom trawling and scallop dredging. There are many more examples and viewpoints, and other nations are pursuing their own measures and working towards global agreements on marine conservation. This is more important than ever in light of this year’s UN Ocean Conference.

It’s worth highlighting that Ocean doesn’t say that commercial fishing as a whole is bad. The documentary is beautiful but devastating, and a reminder to all of us in the seafood sector, whether it’s fisheries or aquaculture, to think further about how we can take even more effective steps than the ones we are taking now. It’s exciting to see, once again, the attention given to critical issues that the ocean is facing. But at the same time, it’s important to remember that scientists, the fishing industry and more have been working hard for many years to improve fisheries and build something more sustainable. Like Seaspiracy, Ocean is a great opportunity for healthy, open discussions on fisheries, regulation and environmental protection, where all stakeholders can come together in a collaborative way.

All about krill

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Amidst the feed ingredients that are emerging as viable protein sources in the face of growing global food demands, krill stands out as a particularly promising one for future salmon production. But what makes it so appealing, and how is it being integrated into salmon diets?

At the North Atlantic Seafood Forum in Bergen last month, I listened to a presentation by Sigve Nordrum, CCO of Aker QRILL Company, an Antarctic krill-harvesting company that develops krill-based ingredients. During his talk, Nordrum introduced some of the most important health issues in farmed salmon in Norway, including delousing injuries, gill disease, wounds and vinter ulcers, before highlighting the ability of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) to provide salmon with a package of nutrients, attractants and proteins, such as peptides, astaxanthin, choline, phospholipids and omega-3s. He also introduced some studies, conducted by Aker QRILL Company, which show that krill meal can help to reduce sea lice (25% reduction in sea lice compared to a control diet), heal wounds (55% reduced scarring and better gross appearance of wounds compared to a control diet), reduce melanin spots (0% melanin spots in salmon given krill meal compared to 13% in salmon on a control diet), and offer better growth and reduced mortality.

These advantages, the feed attractant properties of krill, which enhance feed intake and growth performance, and the transfer of astaxanthin to salmon fillets, improving pigmentation and overall fillet quality, really stood out to me during the presentation. It was clear why one of the most abundant animal species on the planet is a front-runner as a possible fishmeal and fish oil alternative.

Krill is usually integrated into salmon diets during the final production stage before harvesting. It is integrated primarily through feed that is made from dried and ground krill, and krill oil. It is added as a supplement in small amounts, no more than 10%, in order to provide an array of benefits. Because it cannot be taken as a regular protein source or as a complete fishmeal or fish oil replacement, it is considered a feed additive and must be used strategically, taking all key nutrients into account, in order to make it cost-effective. According to a 2022 research paper, just 8 – 10% of krill meal for 10 to 12 weeks is considered sufficient to achieve growth performance benefits.

Before delving into the potential of krill in salmon farming, I did a bit of reading to find out more about the positive attributes of these small, shrimp-like creatures, and learned about their importance to the health of the ocean and the atmosphere. Interestingly, they can increase the store of carbon in the deep ocean by releasing essential nutrients such as ammonium and iron into the water (these nutrients are excreted as waste products through faeces.) Tiny plants at the base of the marine food web, like phytoplankton, can then use these nutrients to photosynthesise and grow. Krill can increase the store of carbon in the deep ocean because their faeces, in pellet form, sinks quickly and remains on the sea bed for years. One study shows that young krill that live near sea ice may be particularly important in the carbon sink because they live deeper in the water column compared to adult krill. This means that any faecal pellets released by younger krill could escape any currents that may return them to the surface, and instead sink further until they reach the deep.

Meanwhile, aquaculture has long been searching for different protein sources to reduce its dependence on marine resources. It is also becoming clear that aquaculture cannot rely on just a few sources of raw materials, especially scarce and limited marine resources. Aquaculture is now at a point where searching for new ingredients for the formulation of feed has become one of its key focal points. Over the years, krill meal has been vastly studied, and its benefits, such as improved feed intake, growth performance, fillet quality and fish health, have been well documented.

The array of benefits that krill provides has contributed to increased demand for krill fishing from sectors such as pharmaceuticals, as well as aquaculture. These benefits have changed the nature of the krill fishery by showing that it’s possible to obtain more valuable products from krill than was initially thought, according to Dr. George Watters of the Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division at NOAA. In addition, logistical, sustainable and harvesting concerns remain over how much krill is fished and from where. Catching and processing krill can also be expensive, while concerns are high that krill fishing could decrease the species’ carbon sink capacity and create competition for natural predators of krill. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which manages the Antarctic krill fishery, has acted by regulating the total krill catch within a 620,000 tonne ‘trigger’ level across four regions in the southwest Atlantic, and establishing an overall catch limit of 5.6 million metric tonnes a year to prevent krill fleets from concentrating their fishing activities in small areas. Hopes are high that this could regulate fishing, ensure that krill’s natural predators have access to food, and protect krill stocks in a fragile ecosystem while making sure that the resource is healthy and sustainable.

Aquaculture has acknowledged the issues that come with harvesting krill. While committing to keeping its krill fishery operations away from penguin colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula during breeding season, Aker QRILL Company has offered support for the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWRF) to promote Antarctic marine ecosystem research, including projects that focus on fishery management for Antarctic krill. Aker QRILL Company has also received an A rating from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership for having a krill fishery in very good condition.

With more awareness towards the concerns, and at a time when the ocean is already under pressure from threats like climate change, krill fisheries and the use of krill, not only in aquaculture but also in other sectors, is drawing attention. Because these sectors benefit from krill, hopefully they will make positive contributions in return, for example supporting krill ecosystem-based management systems and working to ensure that fisheries do not have any negative ecological impacts. My hope is that they can work methodically and sustainably to ensure that resources like krill are being used responsibly.

A Look Back at Bergen: North Atlantic Seafood Forum 2025

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Earlier this month, over 1,000 people gathered for the annual North Atlantic Seafood Forum in Bergen, Norway. With participants from 32 countries, five continents, and nearly 400 organisations, the conference involved three days of discussions, networking and industry insights. Key issues in salmon farming were discussed as part of a packed programme that also included a networking evening reception.

I had a great time catching up with familiar faces, making new connections and enjoying the presentations. Bringing together leading experts and important policymakers, the conference highlighted vital developments shaping the future of salmon farming and provided insights on a range of subjects from technology and AI to feed ingredients, markets and challenges. It was an opportunity to gain a valuable perspective on innovation and commercial development in the salmon sector, and increase understanding of the financial and economic issues affecting markets today.

Cage Talk
The first day of the conference looked at addressing the challenges of farming salmon at sea through technology, best practices and innovation. The Cage Talk session first discussed the importance of rearing smolt on land for longer to reduce the amount of time the fish spend at sea. This has an array of advantages, according to Oyvind Oaland, chief of farming operations at seafood firm Mowi in Norway and Iceland. He explained that as a result, sea lice treatments can be reduced and site capacity and survival can increase. During a presentation from salmon farming company Cermaq, Harald Tackle introduced the company’s use of 50m-deep skirts in Tofino, Canada, to address sea lice, and the use of laser technology on salmon farms in Norway to control sea lice and reduce the need for treatment.

During this session, and indeed throughout the entire conference, the word collaboration featured prominently. The salmon sector needs to work closely with authorities to establish further regulations towards sustainable growth, and work with academia and researchers to develop science-based, objective knowledge and information to address key challenges. Skilled engineers are also important to drive ocean innovation systems that can support growth. The salmon sector has many stakeholders with their own expertise who can contribute across the value chain, streamlining operations, reducing environmental impact or ensuring good living conditions for fish. Collaboration between stakeholders can drive these positive steps, allowing the industry to grow and improving other areas, including consumers’ access to sustainable seafood options.

Focus on Feed
Feed was once again on the menu this year, with a strong focus on the role of feed ingredients in environmental impacts assessment and mitigation, life cycle assessment and nutritional balance to ensure fish health and growth. There is already plenty of proof and innovation in salmon farming showing that alternative feed ingredients like algae, insects and single cell proteins are reliable and viable. In fact, the conference made it clear that these ingredients are already playing a part in de-risking the supply of essential nutrients for feed, while the salmon sector’s commitment to incorporating such ingredients is strong. During the presentations, Skretting introduced a matrix for novel ingredients, while Biomar Norway shared its data from 2024 on inclusion rates of microalgae (2.4%) and other ingredients such as insects (2.18%).

It was also noted that the focus on alternative feed ingredients is not about replacing marine ingredients, but rather adding to them. However, it is up to the entire value chain to generate real impact, and create reliable markets for alternative feed ingredients to ensure that they can scale. During the feed sessions, some examples of steady leadership were highlighted, such as Cermaq’s commitment to sustainable feed, while Marco Custodio, project manager at consultancy Earthworm Foundation, touched upon the need to understand consumer attitudes towards alternative ingredients before market creation and scale up. He described consumer surveys that have been carried out in France, highlighting the need to conduct such studies to align with market expectations and improve transparency and communication with consumers.

Another main point raised during the feed sessions is that supply must expand. Algae innovators have already added 10% to global EPA and DHA supply, but not just for aquaculture. Meanwhile, the availability of insect meal is growing, but slowly. Can the examples presented at the conference continue to develop, and work to build a more sustainable future for feed?

Salmon Welfare
I always enjoy discussions on animal welfare in aquaculture, so it was great to see an entire session devoted to this topic. Salmon Welfare in Aquaculture showed that with Norwegian seafood exports reaching record levels in 2024, ensuring fish health is essential to maintaining consumer trust, regulatory confidence, and operational efficiency. The morning consisted of two panels talking about industry risk and sustainable growth through change management. They provided solutions-oriented discussions, while exploring the challenges and opportunities of fish welfare from various perspectives. Once again, the key message was collaboration, and the need to work together to shape the future of ethical, sustainable salmon farming.

It was also interesting to hear whether fish health and welfare might have been sacrificed on the road to long-term success. Edgar Brun, academic director of Fish Health and Welfare Institute, asked this question and gave quite a strong assessment on the state of salmon health today, calling out poor crisis management and a reluctance to engage with critics.

But at the same time, the salmon farming sector clearly understands that despite the many challenges, good welfare is the only option, that this is at the heart of the trust equation and that the sector must demonstrate evidence of tangible improvements to maintain its social licence to operate. Examples of how salmon farms could take a step forward included improving understanding of welfare and what to look out for when it comes to good and bad welfare, being prepared for possible changes, and making a commitment to adapt. A nice touch during the session was a presentation by Hilde Talseth, CEO of leading broiler chicken producer Norsk Kylling. She explained what her company has done to improve the welfare of its chickens and create better rearing environments, and said that farmers, who interact daily with animals, are the true experts in identifying health and welfare issues firsthand, so building trust with them is extremely important. She also touched upon the theme of collaboration and the need to foster this to drive meaningful progress.

This year’s conference came with many more presentations and interactive discussions that covered more than what I’ve described, but they all focused on a single message – the importance of a collaborative approach to promote growth in a sustainable manner and within planetary boundaries. I also believe that the full potential of salmon farming, or indeed aquaculture as a whole, can be realised with greater collaboration between industry, regulators, academia, researchers, businesses, producers, consumers and more. A common understanding and vision will make it possible to promote a vibrant and attractive sector going forward.

*Next year’s North Atlantic Seafood Forum will take place in Bergen, Norway, from the 3rd to 5th March 2026.