© Rastech
King prawns is one of the “big five” seafoods eaten in the UK – yet a vast majority of this tropical species is imported. Researchers from the UK Sustainable King Prawn Project (UKSKPP) say an alternative, cost-effective and environmentally sound king prawn aquaculture method exists. This approach could create new employment opportunities and making production of the freshest and tastiest seafood truly sustainable.
Growing one tonne of king prawns this way takes 50 times less land than raising the same quantity of pork or beef, boosting the UK economy and food security. This impressive efficiency of land-use for high-quality food production also 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.
“Nature restoration is vital, but if we simply take land out of farming this reduces food production, shifting agricultural impacts on the environment elsewhere. King prawn production yields huge quantities of highly nutritious food on small areas providing a great example of how we can spare land for environmental improvements without reducing food output,” said professor Ian Bateman OBE, in a press release.
Professor Rod Wilson, who leads the UKSKPP, added: “If we are going to feed our growing population over the coming decades – while simultaneously reducing our carbon emissions and reversing biodiversity loss – sustainable aquaculture has to be a major part of food production. Our project aims to support a new farming sector for home-grown king prawns, using indoor closed-system methods, harnessing renewable energy and integrating circular-economy thinking so nothing is wasted.”
Current retail value of king prawns in the UK is over £300 million per year, and, according to the University of Exeter, replacing only a small proportion of this would boost the UK economy and reduce environmental impact. This type of aquaculture would offer benefits such as job creation in rural UK locations and reduced pressure on environmental impacts (both in the UK and overseas).
Leaders and policymakers attend a showcase
Researchers, business leaders and policymakers have attended a showcase for the project at the University of Exeter on November 14.
Andrew Whiston, chief technical officer of Rastech and co-founder of Eden Valley Prawns – the UK’s only commercial land-based king prawn farm – said prior to the event: “We’ve proved that king prawns can be raised and sold right here in the UK using only seawater, feed, and renewable energy. No antibiotics, no pesticides, no mangrove destruction and minimal food miles. The UK can lead the way in onshoring sustainable aquaculture; improving our food security with fresh, healthy seafood we can all enjoy with a clear conscience.”
To establish sustainable aquaculture at the forefront of the UK seafood sector, key barriers to the expansion of land-based production will need to be overcome. These barriers include public perception of aquaculture, a suitably skilled workforce, technological and legislative innovation, and UK hatcheries for key production species. The UKSKPP research team is therefore working with industry and government, and undertaking research to address these barriers and unlock a new seafood future for the UK.
