UK’s Seafish to Restructure Operations After Levy Reform Rejection

The UK’s Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) has announced a significant restructuring of its operations to refocus its work and secure financial sustainability. 

The decision follows a government ruling earlier in 2025 not to approve proposed levy reforms, which had been intended to provide the organisation with a more stable long-term funding model.

The board has agreed that Seafish will concentrate its efforts on three core delivery areas for the UK seafood sector. 

The first, “skills and training”, will involve supporting safety at sea and providing training for both fishermen and onshore businesses. This strand of work is seen as vital to ensuring that the industry continues to attract and retain skilled workers, while also maintaining high standards of safety in what remains one of the UK’s most hazardous professions.

The second area, “facilitating trade”, will focus on guidance around regulation, market access and trade flows. With the seafood industry heavily reliant on international markets, Seafish intends to provide businesses with the insight and support they need to navigate complex regulatory environments and shifting trade dynamics. This includes helping companies understand export requirements, manage supply chains, and respond to changes in global demand.

The third priority, “future ready”, will address responsible sourcing, environmental sustainability and innovation. Seafish has said that this area will be critical to ensuring the industry adapts to long-term challenges such as climate change, resource management and consumer expectations around sustainability. The organisation intends to support businesses in adopting innovative practices and technologies that reduce environmental impact while maintaining competitiveness.

Seafish noted that these core services will be “underpinned by data, insight, and industry engagement,” ensuring that decisions are evidence-based and aligned with the needs of the sector. 

However, activities falling outside these priorities, including the fisheries management service in its current form, will be phased out by 31st March 2026. The organisation confirmed that the changes affect up to 13 roles, and a staff consultation process is currently underway.

“While the levy decision was not the outcome we had hoped for, we fully respect the decision in the context of the challenging economic climate in which the UK seafood industry is operating,” said Chair of Seafish, Mike Sheldon.  

He added that the restructuring was necessary to ensure Seafish remains financially sustainable while continuing to deliver support in areas deemed most critical for the industry’s future resilience.

The seafood industry has faced mounting pressures in recent years, including rising operational costs, regulatory changes, and the need to adapt to sustainability targets. Seafish’s restructuring is intended to help the sector meet these challenges by focusing resources on areas where they can deliver the greatest impact. 

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