Seafish

What Seafish does

Seafish (legal name: Sea Fish Industry Authority) is a UK non-departmental public body established in 1981 under the Fisheries Act 1981 and sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Headquartered in Edinburgh with a second office in Grimsby, the organization employs approximately 80 staff and operates with a mandate to support the entire UK seafood supply chain — from catching and aquaculture through processing, trade, retail, and foodservice. It is funded primarily through a statutory levy on the first sale of seafood products in the UK (including imports), supplemented by project-based government grants such as a £443,000 Marine Fund Scotland award in 2025.

Seafish delivers a portfolio of interconnected services organized around three strategic outcomes articulated in its 2026/27 Annual Plan ("Delivering Impact Together"): a safe and skilled workforce, smoother seafood trade, and a resilient supply chain. Core products include mandatory and voluntary commercial fishing training delivered through an Approved Training Providers network; the Under 16.5m Skipper's Certificate; onshore Fish Quality Assessment training; Kingfisher Information Services (hazard mapping, FishSAFE for oil/gas infrastructure, KIS-ORCA for offshore renewables and cables, and the Kingfisher Bulletin iOS/Android app); the RASS risk-assessment framework for wild capture fisheries; the Seafood Trade and Tariff Tool; the Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool; SCEPT supply-chain tracking; country-specific export guides; the Skilled Worker Visa advisory service (built with Wiggin LLP); and the Young Seafood Leaders Network.

On the intelligence and market-research side, Seafish publishes the flagship annual UK Seafood in Numbers report (catch-to-plate data), sector reports including Shellfish in Multiple Retail and Sushi in Multiple Retail, and RASS species profiles. Distribution is hybrid: a regional Industry Engagement team (with named managers for Scotland, Northern Ireland, South West England and other regions) provides direct enterprise support; international trade-show pavilions (Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Japan International Seafood & Technology Expo) support export development; and self-serve online portals, newsletters (Seafish News, The Catch Regulation, Kingfisher Bulletin, Seafood Training updates), webinars, and Export Academy sessions round out the channel mix. Customer segments span UK fishing fleets, seafood processors, aquaculture producers, importers/exporters, retailers, and foodservice operators; named logos are limited, but the customer base is structurally broad given the industry's 17,000 processing workers across 340 sites, 716,000 tonnes of landings, and £1.2bn+ aquaculture value.

Name

Seafish

Legal name

Sea Fish Industry Authority

Website

https://seafish.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Seafish is a UK non-departmental public body, funded by a seafood levy and government grants, that supports the entire UK seafood supply chain through workforce training, trade facilitation, market intelligence, and sustainability advisory services. It is sponsored by Defra and headquartered in Edinburgh with offices in Grimsby.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Seafood Industry Support Services

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900), Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture Processing & On-Farm Value-Add (primary handling, icing, packing) (AFAEAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Finfish Farming (e.g., salmon, tilapia, catfish) (AFAEAAAA), Marine Shellfish Farming (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams) (AFAEAAAB), Aquaculture Harvest, Processing & Packing (Farmed Finfish/Shellfish; On-Farm Plants) (AFANADAL)

Keywords

• Seafood industry support
• Fisheries safety training
• Seafood trade regulation
• Marine hazard mapping
• Seafood market intelligence

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Seafish Levy: Most of Seafish's funding comes from a levy on the first sale of seafood products in the UK, including imported seafood. This levy helps deliver services across the entire seafood supply chain.
2. Project Funding: Additional funding secured through UK fisheries funding schemes for specific projects, such as Marine Fund Scotland grants (£443,000 received).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Seafish is a UK non-departmental public body that delivers training, regulatory guidance, market intelligence, hazard mapping, and trade facilitation to businesses across the UK seafood supply chain, from catching and aquaculture through processing, distribution, import/export, retail and foodservice. It also operates the Seafood Trade and Tariff Tool, RASS sourcing risk profiles, the Kingfisher hazard information service with mobile app, and produces flagship industry reports such as UK Seafood in Numbers.

Product overview

Seafish is a UK non-departmental public body that supports the seafood industry across the entire supply chain. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected services organized around three strategic outcomes: a safe and skilled workforce, smoother and expanding seafood trade, and a resilient supply chain. Key offerings include commercial fishing training courses (mandatory safety training and voluntary Skipper certification), onshore training programs (Fish Quality Assessment), and Kingfisher Information Services (hazard mapping and real-time bulletins via app and web). For trade facilitation, Seafish provides the Seafood Trade and Tariff Tool, country-specific export guides, and convenes the Seafish Trade Facilitation Forum. Research products include the flagship UK Seafood in Numbers annual report, sector-specific reports (Shellfish in Multiple Retail, Sushi in Multiple Retail), and Risk Assessment for Sourcing Seafood (RASS) profiles. The organization also provides Skilled Worker Visa guidance for seafood businesses employing migrant workers and operates the Young Seafood Leaders Network for industry professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kingfisher Information Services: Provides information on surface and subsea hazards around the UK, helping fishing vessels operate safely at sea.
• FishSAFE
• KIS-ORCA

Products and services

• Commercial Fishing Training Courses Mandatory and voluntary safety and skills training courses for fishing vessel workers, including Basic Sea Survival, Basic Fire Fighting, Basic First Aid, Basic Health and Safety, and Safety Awareness training, delivered through a network of Approved Training Providers.
• Seafish Under 16.5m Skipper's Certificate Voluntary training programme leading to certification for skippers of vessels under 16.5m, available in Restricted (within 20 miles of safe haven) and Unrestricted (beyond 20 miles) versions, covering bridge watchkeeping, engineroom watchkeeping, stability awareness, and GMDSS radio operation.
• Fish Quality Assessment Training Courses Training programmes using Torry and Quality Index Method (QIM) assessment schemes for objectively assessing fish quality, including Principles of Fish Quality Assessment (half-day remote) and Intermediate Fish Quality Assessment (three-day) courses, for onshore seafood businesses such as processors, fishmongers and food service.
• Kingfisher Information Services Information services providing data on surface and subsea hazards around the UK to help fishing vessels operate safely, including the Kingfisher Bulletin app, Kingfisher Gear Restrictions website, FishSAFE project for oil/gas infrastructure data, KIS-ORCA for cable and wind farm data, and Talking Points magazine.
• Kingfisher Bulletin App Mobile application available for iOS and Android providing real-time hazard alerts, personalised searches, and instant notifications when new hazard notices are added for UK fishing waters.
• UK Seafood in Numbers Annual flagship report providing catch-to-plate analysis of the UK seafood industry, covering data from catching, processing, trade, food service and retail sectors, including imports, aquaculture, landings, exports and consumption statistics.
• Seafood Trade and Tariff Tool Online tool providing easy access to search UK seafood trade and tariff data, enabling businesses to analyse trade flows and tariff rates.
• Risk Assessment for Sourcing Seafood (RASS) Risk assessment framework and profiles for wild capture fisheries that score and assess seafood sourcing risks for different species and fishing methods, supporting fisheries management and responsible seafood sourcing decisions.
• Skilled Worker Visa Guidance for Seafood Businesses Comprehensive guidance documents and resources to help seafood businesses navigate the sponsor process for employing migrant workers under the Skilled Worker Visa, including guides on becoming a sponsor, employing workers, and ongoing responsibilities.
• Country-Specific Export Guides Market export guides providing UK seafood businesses with expertise on international seafood markets including Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, and importing from Vietnam.
• Seafish Trade Facilitation Forum Forum that helps the UK seafood sector navigate trade rules, share insights, and improve market access, convened together with BFFF.
• Sushi in Multiple Retail Report Annual report analysing sushi sales in UK retail, tracking record sales of GBP 228 million in 2026 with 215% growth over the past decade.
• Shellfish in Multiple Retail Report Annual report analysing shellfish consumption trends in UK multiple retail, showing long-term consumption patterns and market share trends.
• Nutrient Removal by UK Bivalve Aquaculture Report Research report exploring how shellfish farming could play a practical role in tackling excess nutrients in UK waters, examining real-world UK case studies and the economic value of environmental benefits.
• Young Seafood Leaders Network Platform connecting talented young professionals from across the UK seafood industry for knowledge sharing, best practice identification, networking, mentoring, and leadership development.
• Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool Tool for measuring and profiling carbon emissions in the seafood supply chain, recognised for sustainability impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• Export values rising 13% to £1.98 billion in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on research examining how shellfish farming could play a practical role in tackling excess nutrients in UK waters. AFBI contributed research expertise to the Nutrient Removal by UK Bivalve Aquaculture study.
• Longline Environment LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on bivalve aquaculture ecosystem services research, providing environmental expertise for the nutrient removal study.
• European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative partner in KIS-ORCA (Kingfisher Information Services - Offshore Renewable and Cable Awareness) providing charts and fishing plotter data on subsea cables and offshore wind farms.
• Renewable UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative partner in KIS-ORCA project providing offshore wind awareness information to fishing vessels.
• Shellfish Association of Great BritaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarry Harland (Seafish Director of Operations) serves as a Director, facilitating collaboration between Seafish and shellfish industry stakeholders.
• Wiggin LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImmigration law firm collaborating with Seafish to create guidance documents for seafood businesses navigating Skilled Worker Visa application processes.
• BFFF (British Frozen Food Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convenes Importers Forum facilitating discussion on importing-related matters with industry, government and other perspectives.
• Department for International TradecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) helping UK businesses identify and respond to specific market opportunities overseas.
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeafish sponsor department. Maintains close contact throughout UK-EU SPS Agreement negotiation process to highlight seafood industry priorities and concerns.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Food Standards Agency (FSA): UK food regulator covering seafood safety, labelling and consumer protection. Adjacent regulatory role to Seafish's training and regulatory guidance, though broader in scope across all food categories.
• NOAA Fisheries: US federal agency responsible for fisheries management, science and conservation. Functions as Seafish's US equivalent in fisheries oversight, training frameworks and industry data, though within a much larger US seafood market.
• FranceAgriMer: French national agency supporting agriculture and fisheries with market data, regulation and economic analysis. Overlapping seafood intelligence and policy support functions analogous to Seafish's Seafood in Numbers and trade facilitation work.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – Fisheries and Aquaculture: UN agency providing global fisheries and aquaculture policy, data and capacity building. Comparable international data and standards-setting role to Seafish's UK Seafood in Numbers and RASS frameworks.

Direct peers

• Norwegian Seafood Council: Norway's government-funded seafood industry body focused on promotion, market insight and trade facilitation. Comparable mandate to Seafish in supporting domestic industry across trade, sustainability communication and market data.
• Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM): Ireland's state agency for the seafood industry, providing training, advisory and market development services analogous to Seafish's UK mandate. Closest structural peer — quasi-governmental body supporting a national seafood supply chain.

Emerging players

• European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EUMOFA): EU-level market intelligence tool for fisheries and aquaculture, providing price/supply data across member states. Overlaps with Seafish's Seafood Trade and Tariff Tool and economic insight functions.
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC): Global sustainability certification body for wild-capture fisheries, intersecting with Seafish's RASS profiles and responsible sourcing programs. Both influence seafood sourcing decisions through risk and certification frameworks.
• Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP): Non-profit working to improve fishery sustainability worldwide through data, assessments and supply chain engagement. Comparable to Seafish's RASS profiles and responsible sourcing mission but operating globally and via NGO funding.

Others

• Shellfish Association of Great Britain: UK trade association specifically representing shellfish growers, with a Director cross-membership with Seafish. Comparable membership-supported mission for a sub-sector of Seafish's broader seafood scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/seafishuk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWXIS2RklRRfQ-bHFeT6rFw
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100077191374735
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sea-fish-industry-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seafish