New report warns of climate change threats to UK wild-capture seafood industry

UK – A recent study has brought to light the looming challenges that the UK’s wild-capture seafood sector may face due to climate change. 

The report, titled “Climate Change Risk Adaptation in UK Seafood: Understanding and Responding to a Changing Climate in the Wild Capture Seafood Industry,” was authored by a team of experts, including Dr. Angus Garrett from Seafish, Dr. John Pinnegar of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), and Dr. Tara Marshall and Dr. Julia Wouters from Aberdeen University.

The research, conducted over 2022 and 2023, involved the participation of approximately 30 stakeholders from the seafood industry, who contributed a wide range of data and perspectives. 

This report is a comprehensive update of research conducted a decade ago, which initially forecasted the potential effects of climate change on the availability of wild-capture seafood in the UK. 

While the core physical impacts identified in the earlier work remain relevant, the new report highlights additional challenges that have emerged over the past decade. 

These include shifts in policy, making climate change responsibilities more prominent for the industry, as well as evolving market expectations, particularly concerning sustainable seafood sourcing. 

The report also points to the growing threat of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, exacerbated by both climatic and geopolitical shifts.

Dr. Garrett, representing Seafish—a public body dedicated to supporting the UK seafood industry—emphasized the importance of the report in helping the sector prepare for climate-related challenges. 

He noted that as global temperatures continue to rise, the effects on fisheries will be felt throughout the seafood supply chain. 

While the extent of future warming remains uncertain, Dr. Garrett expressed hope that the report would serve as a valuable resource for the industry to begin adapting to these changes.

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