Business Case – Establishment of a New Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Function (SAIC)

Annex B

Pillar 1 – Planet: enhancing nature

CES goal: steward natural capital and enhance marine biodiversity.

Innovation in aquaculture supports this by: reducing environmental impact through advanced technologies, improved practices, and scientific research; improving fish health and welfare via innovations in medication, feed management, and operational procedures; and advancing environmental modelling using tools such as eDNA and photogrammetry. Additionally, new farming systems, e.g., semi-closed containment and offshore farming, can address biological challenges and reduce ecological footprints.

Alignment with SAIC: SAIC shares CES’s commitment to sustainability and climate resilience. Both organisations emphasise proactive adaptation to climate risks and support research driven solutions.

Pillar 2 – People: supporting sustainable communities

CES goal: promote inclusive growth and community wellbeing.

Innovation in aquaculture contributes to this by: creating and safeguarding skilled jobs through the adoption of technologies and techniques; empowering micro companies, SMEs and community-led projects, particularly in shellfish and seaweed in remote areas; and improving food security by strengthening local food systems and reducing reliance on imports.

Alignment with SAIC: CES’s focus on responsible growth and capacity building complements SAIC’s mission to foster knowledge transfer and strengthen sector resilience through initiatives that include projects, workshops and outreach activities.

Pillar 3 – Productivity: progressing the Just Transition

CES goal: balance economic development with climate and societal goals.

Innovation in aquaculture can support this by: encouraging cross-sector collaboration among universities, industry, and government; scaling sustainable models through pilot projects that balance economic and environmental goals; and diversifying the blue economy, reducing reliance on traditional sectors and positioning Scottish seafood as a premium global product.

Alignment with SAIC: both CES and SAIC prioritise industry resilience, sustainability, and innovation in response to climate change and environmental pressures.

CES & SAIC: key areas of strategic alignment:

1. A shared commitment to sustainability and climate resilience: environmental stewardship and climate adaptation are central to CES and SAIC.

2. Collaborative innovation and stakeholder engagement: Both CES and SAIC promote cross-sector collaboration and coordinated action.

3. Encouragement of best practice: CES’s emphasis on ethical practice complements SAIC’s support of the Code of Good Practice, ASC certification, and RSPCA welfare standards.

4. A focus on inclusive growth: joint working and knowledge exchange is a shared priority that supports capacity building across the sector. This alignment presents significant opportunities for joint initiatives that can accelerate progress toward a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready Scottish aquaculture sector.