BMFA secretary Richard Slaski told delegates that consumer demand for fish is continuing to rise and aquaculture held the key in making up the shortfall from wild capture fisheries.
Recent figures from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) showed that nearly half the fish consumed as food worldwide are now raised on fish farms.
The health benefits of eating fish combined with its excellent taste make it one of the most sought after foods, he said.
Aquaculture is playing an increasingly important role in helping meet that demand and this growth is set to continue.
He praised Shetland-based Johnson Seafarms for its pioneering work in cod farming and said it provided a perfect example of how outside capital investment in fish farming can help the sector grow.
I believe there are good opportunities and returns for those willing to invest in the farming of species such as cod and halibut because of the high market demand. Such investment would also help take the industry to its next stage of development, said Mr Slaski.
The conference continues tomorrow (3 October) with presentations from John Goodlad of Shetland Halibut, Graeme Dear of Skretting, Lesley McEvoy and Alan Bourhill of Johnson Seafarms, and Karen Galloway of Seafish.
TheFishSite News Desk
Marine finfish farming is helping to plug the supply gap
UK - The farming of marine finfish species such as cod and halibut is playing an important role in helping plug the gap between supply and demand, the annual conference of the British Marine Finfish Association (BMFA) heard today (2 October) in Shetland.
Marine finfish farming is helping to plug the supply gap - UK - The farming of marine finfish species such as cod and halibut is playing an important role in helping plug the gap between supply and demand, the annual conference of the British Marine Finfish Association (BMFA) heard today (2 October) in Shetland.