An introduction to food security with an overview of supply and demand for fish and the FSA views on consumption of oily and non- oily fish. Outline of the requirement to increase aquaculture production. By Lee McDonough

1. Food security and the challenges
for aquaculture
Cefas Workshop: Towards a sustainable finfish
aquaculture industry for England
13th October 2009
Lee McDonough
Deputy Director Marine Programme, Defra

2. Presentation outline
• Overview of UK aquaculture
• Policy context: food security
• Policy drivers:
• The decline in capture fisheries
• Population growth
• Consumer interest
• Political interest

3. Overview of UK Aquaculture
• Most aquaculture activity is related to fish and shellfish
• The majority of existing food finfish aquaculture activity is located
in Scotland although it is increasing in areas of Wales and
England. Shellfish culture is spread more evenly throughout the
UK
• In 2006, the farm gate value of fish farming in England and Wales
was estimated to be c£23.5 million, of which £13 million was
salmonids, 0.5 million other food fish and £10 million coarse fish
for re-stocking of fisheries and ornamental purposes. The value of
shellfish farming was estimated to be around £20 million.

4. Policy context: Food security
• The Government defines food security as:
“Ensuring the availability of, and access to, affordable, safe and
nutritious food sufficient for an active lifestyle, for all, at all times.”
• Need to look at sustainability and security together
• By any objective measure, we enjoy a high degree of food
security in the UK today. As a modern trading economy, the UK
enjoys a rich diversity of nutritious food from home and abroad,
so we have a vested interest in the sustainability of our food
wherever it comes from.
• UK food security assessment (August 2009) indicated that
overall the food supply was currently secure.
• However, one sector identified as "very unfavourable" and
showing no sign of improving is global fish stocks.

5. Policy driver: Decline in capture
fisheries
• FAO has classified most wild fisheries as either fully exploited or over
exploited
• EU27 capture fisheries have declined over recent years, with the balance
of supplies coming from aquaculture production and from increased
imports
• According to the FAO total world fisheries
United Kingdom Capture Production
(FAO Fishery Statistic) production was 92 million tonnes capture
fisheries, 51.7 million tonnes aquaculture
• Production increases came from the
aquaculture sector (now accounts for 47
percent of all fish consumed by humans as
food)

6. Policy driver: Population growth
• UK population is forecast to grow to almost 71 million by
2035 (England accounts for c83% of UK population)
• FSA recommend two portions of fish pw. Majority of UK
population does not consume enough fish (particularly
oily types)
• Assuming we did eat the right level,
for the projected increase in
population that’s an extra 20
million portions per week

7. Policy driver: Consumer interest
• Aquaculture could have an increasingly
important role in providing a protein source for
future generations
• Essential that consumers are well informed
about the role aquaculture plays both in providing a
continuing source of fish and shellfish and in the interaction it has
with the local and wider environment
• Consumers have experienced a long-term increase in the real
prices of fresh and frozen fish and this trend is likely to continue.
• Health benefits of fish consumption remains clear, with FSA
advising to eat two portions of fish a week. Need to balance this
with sustainable use of fisheries resources
• Consumer interest on sustainability peaked (e.g.. feed conversion
issues, highlighted in “The end of the line”)

8. Policy driver: Political interest
• Fisheries 2027: “... significant amount of the fish we eat is farmed and the
environmental impacts of aquaculture are acceptable.”
• UK food security assessment published in August 2009
• Efra committee’s report ‘Securing food supplies up to 2050: the challenges
faced by the UK’
• April 2009 the European Commission published Building a sustainable
future for aquaculture.
• European Fisheries Fund. €6.4 million potential funding for micro and
SMEs available in England United Kingdom Aquaculture Production
(FAO Fishery Statistic)

9. Conclusion
• 10 minutes not enough time to do justice to
the issues!
• Fish and seafood is a large part of the
European lifestyle.
• Aquaculture has some advantages for the consumer, which
include: sustainability; safety; affordability and traceability.
However, there are perception/real issues to be overcome
e.g. FCR, bio-security, production methods and consumer
preference
• Recognition that aquaculture has an important part to play in
meeting the needs of UK consumers for a sustainable supply
of fish and seafood.

10. Do we need a strategy?
• As a starting point, we need to find answers
to (at least!!) the following questions:
• What contribution can English aquaculture make to our food
security needs?
• What should industry's role be?
• How important are retailers?
• What should government's role be?
• What are the opportunities (e.g..
Offshore, feedstuffs, biofuels)?
• What are the challenges?