The Next Wave: The Future of Fish Farming

In this episode of Alongside we discuss aquaculture, one of the fastest growing food-producing sectors in the world. Aquaculture involves the farming of fish, shrimps, seaweed and molluscs and has been practiced for thousands of years. But as it becomes a more vital part of the world’s farming sector, there are many challenges as well as opportunities. We hear from Gareth Butterfield, Commercial Director at Reel Data Incorporated and Allan Lyons, Risk Management Surveyor with Sunderland Marine (part of NorthStandard) about those challenges, particularly the impact of climate change, pressures from legislation and the development of new technologies.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Aquaculture

00:53 - Growth and Evolution of Aquaculture

02:43 - Challenges and Criticisms in Aquaculture

04:56 - Focus on Salmon Farming

08:15 - Land-Based Aquaculture

16:24 - Technological Innovations in Aquaculture

19:31 - Future of Aquaculture and Insurance Challenges

22:54 - Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Meet our speakers

Gareth Butterfield - Commercial Director at Reel Data Incorporated.

Gareth Butterfield serves as the Commercial Director for ReelData Inc, bringing over 26 years of extensive aquaculture knowledge and experience to the role. He holds a BSc, MSc, and PhD in aquaculture, highlighting his deep expertise in the field.

Throughout his career, Gareth has held key positions at leading global companies, including Cargill, a leading feed manufacturer in the industry which Gareth worked at for 15 years, where he developed valuable insights into aqua-nutrition, and MOWI, the world’s largest salmon producer, further enhancing his industry expertise.

Gareth's global experience allows him to contextualize the fish farming industry across various geographies and species. He specialises in commercial and business development, backed by strong strategic marketing skills

Allan Lyons - Risk Management Surveyor at Sunderland Marine (part of NorthStandard)

The Aquaculture team is dedicated to providing members with unmatched technical knowledge and assistance, and promoting best practice – from fish farms to angling lakes. With decades of experience that spans most aquaculture disciplines, Allan  works closely with customers, visiting sites to identify and reduce potential risks, and provide operational support. Internally, he works with our underwriters and claims handlers to ensure we offer the best possible cover, based on a practical appreciation of the risks involved.