Researchers push for UK land-based shrimp aquaculture – The Fish Site

Report on Sustainable King Prawn Aquaculture in the United Kingdom

Introduction: A Sustainable Alternative to Imports

King prawns constitute one of the top five seafood products consumed in the United Kingdom, yet the supply is overwhelmingly dependent on imports of this tropical species. Research from the UK Sustainable King Prawn Project (UKSKPP) has identified a cost-effective and environmentally sound aquaculture method for domestic production. This innovative approach presents an opportunity to create new employment, enhance national food security, and establish a truly sustainable model for seafood production that aligns with global development objectives.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The development of a domestic, land-based king prawn aquaculture sector directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By establishing a reliable, domestic source of high-quality protein, this initiative strengthens UK food security and reduces reliance on volatile international supply chains.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The project is projected to stimulate the UK economy by onshoring a portion of the £300 million annual prawn market and creating new employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The proposed closed-system aquaculture model embodies sustainable production by utilizing renewable energy, integrating circular-economy principles to eliminate waste, and avoiding the use of antibiotics or pesticides.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): This method provides a sustainable alternative to conventional overseas prawn farming, which is often associated with the destruction of vital marine ecosystems like mangrove forests.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): The system’s remarkable land-use efficiency allows for “land-sparing,” freeing up agricultural land for nature restoration projects such as afforestation, which improves biodiversity and mitigates flood risk.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Domestic production significantly reduces “food miles” and associated carbon emissions from transportation. Furthermore, the potential for land-sparing supports carbon dioxide removal initiatives.

Economic and Environmental Analysis

Land-Use Efficiency and Environmental Impact

The production of one tonne of king prawns via this method requires 50 times less land than producing an equivalent quantity of beef or pork. This efficiency is central to its contribution to SDG 15, providing a model for intensive, high-yield food production on a minimal footprint. As demonstrated by Eden Valley Prawns, the UK’s sole commercial land-based prawn farm, the process uses only seawater, feed, and renewable energy, thereby minimizing its environmental impact both locally and globally.

Economic Viability and Stakeholder Engagement

On November 14, a project showcase at the University of Exeter convened researchers, business leaders, and policymakers to discuss the initiative’s potential. Professor Ian Bateman noted that this production model allows for environmental improvements without reducing national food output. Professor Rod Wilson, the project lead, stressed that sustainable aquaculture is essential for feeding a growing population while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions and reversing biodiversity loss. Andrew Whiston, CTO of Rastech, confirmed the commercial proof-of-concept, highlighting the ability to deliver fresh, healthy seafood with a clear conscience to UK consumers.

Barriers to Expansion and Path Forward

To establish sustainable aquaculture as a leading component of the UK seafood sector, several key barriers must be overcome. The UKSKPP research team is actively working with industry and government partners to address these challenges.

1. Overcoming negative public perceptions of aquaculture.
2. Developing a suitably skilled and trained workforce.
3. Driving necessary technological and legislative innovation.
4. Establishing domestic UK hatcheries for key production species to ensure supply chain security.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed

The article on the UK Sustainable King Prawn Project (UKSKPP) highlights issues and solutions that connect to several Sustainable Development Goals. These goals focus on ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all. The project’s approach to aquaculture touches upon food security, economic growth, sustainable innovation, responsible production, and environmental conservation.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The project directly addresses food security and sustainable agriculture.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: It aims to boost the UK economy and create employment opportunities.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The initiative is built on technological innovation for a sustainable new industry.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The core of the project is to establish a sustainable production model for a popular consumer product.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The proposed method offers an alternative that avoids the environmental damage associated with traditional coastal aquaculture.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The project’s land-use efficiency is presented as a way to free up agricultural land for nature restoration.

Specific Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, several specific targets under the identified SDGs can be pinpointed. These targets provide a more detailed framework for understanding the project’s potential impact.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

1. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
   • Explanation: The article describes an “environmentally sound king prawn aquaculture method” that is “truly sustainable.” It emphasizes using “indoor closed-system methods, harnessing renewable energy and integrating circular-economy thinking so nothing is wasted,” which aligns directly with creating sustainable and resilient food production systems.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.
   • Explanation: The project represents “technological and legislative innovation” in the UK seafood sector. By creating a new, high-value domestic industry for king prawns (current retail value over £300 million), it aims to “boost the UK economy” through innovation.
2. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • Explanation: The article explicitly states that the project could “create new employment opportunities” and lead to “job creation in rural UK locations.” This directly supports the goal of achieving productive employment.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
   • Explanation: The project is a prime example of this target. It proposes a new farming sector using “indoor closed-system methods, harnessing renewable energy and integrating circular-economy thinking.” The statement that prawns are raised with “No antibiotics, no pesticides” further highlights the adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

1. Target 12.2: By 2020, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • Explanation: The article highlights the project’s resource efficiency, noting that growing one tonne of prawns this way “takes 50 times less land than raising the same quantity of pork or beef.” It also mentions “minimal food miles,” which points to the efficient use of resources in the supply chain.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

1. Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
   • Explanation: The article contrasts the proposed land-based aquaculture with traditional methods by explicitly stating there is “no mangrove destruction.” Since mangrove forests are critical coastal ecosystems often cleared for tropical prawn farming, this method directly helps protect them.

SDG 15: Life on Land

1. Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
   • Explanation: The article promotes the concept of “land sparing.” It argues that the high efficiency of land use for prawn farming “opens opportunities for subsidies to support nature-positive solutions on other agricultural land – for example, planting more woodland for carbon dioxide removal, improving biodiversity and reducing flood risk.” This directly relates to restoring land and improving terrestrial ecosystems.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article mentions or implies several indicators that could be used to track progress towards the identified targets. These indicators provide measurable evidence of the project’s contributions to the SDGs.

Implied Indicators

• Land-use efficiency: The article provides a specific metric: “Growing one tonne of king prawns this way takes 50 times less land than raising the same quantity of pork or beef.” This is a direct indicator of resource efficiency (Targets 12.2, 15.3).
• Job creation: The mention of “new employment opportunities” and “job creation in rural UK locations” implies that the number of jobs created in this new sector would be a key indicator of success (Target 8.5).
• Economic contribution: The statement that replacing a small proportion of the “£300 million per year” import market would “boost the UK economy” suggests that the value added to the UK’s GDP by this new industry is a relevant indicator (Target 8.2).
• Adoption of sustainable technologies: The use of “renewable energy” and “circular-economy thinking” can be measured as indicators of progress towards sustainable industry (Target 9.4). The percentage of energy from renewable sources could be a specific metric.
• Reduction in environmental impact: The claims of “no antibiotics, no pesticides, no mangrove destruction and minimal food miles” serve as qualitative and quantitative indicators of reduced environmental pressure compared to conventional methods (Targets 12.2, 14.2).
• Land spared for nature restoration: The area of agricultural land repurposed for “planting more woodland,” “improving biodiversity,” or “reducing flood risk” as a result of land-sparing from this efficient aquaculture would be a direct indicator for Target 15.3.

Summary of Findings

Source: thefishsite.com