Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries
Research and expertise underpinning the sustainability of marine and freshwater food production
What is aquaculture?
Aquaculture – farming and harvesting fish, shellfish and aquatic plants for food or materials – plays a crucial role in ensuring our future food security. Doing this as sustainably as possible, to meet the goals of the One Health agenda, requires us to think beyond just farmed fish systems.
What role does conservation play in food production?
At Plymouth, our transdisciplinary, systems-thinking approach embraces a broad perspective on aquaculture and fisheries management, incorporating the extent to which marine conservation, fish habitats, biodiversity and natural capital all help contribute towards responsible marine and freshwater food production, and, in doing so, how they support coastal economies and contribute to the national food security agenda.
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`Conservation & fisheries
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ÖFish health & nutrition
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<Essential fish habitats
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ÊAquaculture & society
Marine conservation and fisheries
From Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to the benefits of restorative offshore aquaculture, our research highlights the importance of conservation efforts and continuous monitoring to fisheries and food production.
Can marine conservation contribute to food security?
Lessons from Lyme Bay and the Fish Intel Network
Insights from our research with underwater technologies have shown that conservation works best when it's inclusive, grounded in evidence, and designed to meet the needs of both ecosystems and people.
Can a whole-site approach to conservation balance marine protection with sustainable resource use?
As published in Big Blue World (March 2025)
Evidencing the impact of offshore aquaculture
Working closely with industry, we can deliver essential evidence regarding the impact of offshore aquaculture.
Led by Dr Emma Sheehan, the
applied Marine Ecosystems Research (aMER)
team investigates the ecosystem interactions of conservation measures and marine food production infrastructure, providing scientific evidence and management advice for the benefit of environment and society.
Research highlights
Restorative offshore aquaculture
Research and long-term monitoring, led by
Dr Emma Sheehan
, at the UK's first large-scale mussel farm is providing scientific evidence on the ecosystem restoration benefits of offshore shellfish aquaculture.
Operated by Offshore Shellfish Ltd, the farm is located three-to-six miles offshore in Lyme Bay, South West England. Once fully operational, it is expected to cover 15.4 square kilometres, over three sites, annually producing up to 10,000 tonnes of mussels.
Photo by John Holmyard
Fish health and nutrition
By engaging with hatcheries, industrial partners and sector-leading international organisations, we are able to conduct research and development that enhances the sustainability of aquaculture systems.
How does collaboration help to advance aquaculture research?
Industrial partnerships both support the academic community and foster innovation among future generations of sustainable aquaculture professionals.
Our researchers work with leading aquaculture businesses – we've recently celebrated 15 years of collaboration with Lallemand Animal Nutrition by unveiling a major new initiative that aims to enhance fish resilience and welfare.
Providing sustainable ways to feed the planet
Within one generation, we need another 60% more food than we're producing today. The global growth of aquaculture will be essential to that.
With more than two decades of experience working with industrial partners,
Dr Daniel Merrifield
leads the University's
Fish Health and Nutrition
Fish Health and Nutrition research team, which focuses on advancing fish and crustacean health, nutrition and microbiome understanding.
Fish health and nutrition facilities
We have facilities capable of supporting a range of species with our dedicated tropical- and cold-water aquaria.
Our facilities meet all current UK legislation with associated Home Office licences in place.
We use the highest standard of housing and husbandry, maintained by trained and qualified animal welfare specialists and 24/7 veterinary support.
Our aquaria can provide recirculatory (RAS), static or semi-static holding conditions, suitable for a range of developmental, ecotoxicology or feeding trials.
We have a range of specialised, dedicated aquaria for working with both temperate and tropical species.
Our flexible facilities allow us to work on marine, brackish or freshwater invertebrates, such as shrimp and bivalves.
In addition to our state-of-the-art aquaria and wet labs, we also have a suite of analytical labs, from proteomics to electron microscopy.
Training the aquaculture practitioners of the future
From undergraduate studies in marine science, biology and conservation, to our unique MSc in Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries, our multidisciplinary approach ensures that aquaculture practitioners of the future are equipped with the scientific and ethical knowledge needed to advance the sustainable use of aquatic and marine resources for commercial exploitation of food and products.
Identifying essential fish habitats
Combining expertise and field survey techniques with innovative applications of sensor technology, we assess the quality and availability of essential fish habitats, assisting managers and policy makers in setting conservation priorities.
Why do we need to understand juvenile fish habitats?
Lessons from the FinVision project
Young fish often rely on shallow coastal areas which are heavily impacted by humans – yet we know relatively little about their specific habitat requirements, particularly for the earliest, post-larval forms.
By combining underwater monitoring technology with citizen science, can we provide the evidence needed to show the vital ecological role played by coastal habitats?
As published in The Marine Biologist (April 2025)
Fishing for evidence at the smallest scale
We cannot achieve responsible and sustainable harvests without understanding the production system on which they are based. In marine fisheries, on which most aquatic production in Europe is based, this means understanding how complex marine ecosystems support wild populations of fish and invertebrates.
Through the
Fish Habitat Research Unit
,
Dr Benjamin Ciotti
leads work to improve our understanding of where fish live in the formative stages of their lives, and how nursery habitats critically influence the biodiversity of marine ecosystems, as well as the sustainability and productivity of fisheries.
Brixham Laboratory
Our world-class facility is based in the largest fishing port in Devon and is home to over 20 organisations, from marine scientists and ecotoxicologists to marine engineering and shellfish aquaculture companies.
Dedicated University spaces include both dry and wet labs with state-of-the-art environmental, temperature and lighting controls, supporting a range of research projects, such as the ecology and physiology of early-life fishes.
Aquaculture and society
We co-create and deliver research and social science in partnership with conservation agencies, NGOs, and governments, as well as sea users and local communities, to support the sustainable and fair use of marine and freshwater resources.
Could crabs provide a new source of sustainable protein?
Lessons from our Freshwater Crab Aquaculture project
Is it possible to increase the availability of freshwater crab to different sectors by moving from an artisanal, wild-caught commodity, to aquaculture-produced product?
Our research has explored some of the obstacles and opportunities surrounding moving to aquaculture production of freshwater crabs in India, the world's most populous country, with the aim of maintaining food security and providing a sustainable livelihood resource.
As published in International Aquafeed (June 2025)
Studying the species feeling the pinch of climate change
Land crabs are one of the best models we have when it comes to trying to answer some of the big questions in biology… and how biodiversity might respond to future change.
Can the UK become a global leader in fisheries management and marine conservation?
Researchers from our
Marine Conservation Research Group
draw upon decades of conservation and fisheries management expertise to support UK government marine policy decisions.
Crucially, previous recommendations have made clear that conservation and fisheries management are dependent on each other, rather than competing; our research continues to highlight the links between ocean protection and human lives and livelihoods as we move towards the development of responsible aquatic food production.
Lauren Porter
Placing people at the heart of environmental decisions
'Natural capital' reflects the economic value of an area or a habitat but also the benefits people gain from the environment around them.
Further research
Discover more about our leading marine conservation, technology and responsible food production research.
Sustainable Food Production Research Group
Cross-disciplinary research studying all aspects of food production and its impact on the natural environment.
Marine Conservation Research Group
Investigating the consequences of human activity on marine biodiversity and its ecosystem services.
Sensor Technologies Research Group
Bringing together knowledge, skills and expertise in a range of impactful projects featuring sensors as an integral part of their research.
