The global aquaculture industry will turn its focus to innovation, sustainability and future growth at Aquaculture UK 2026, as organisers unveil a comprehensive conference programme ahead of the event in Glasgow from June 16–17.
The free conference, which will be held at the Scottish Event Campus in conjunction with a two-day exhibition, will bring together top specialists, researchers, and business stakeholders to discuss some of the most important issues confronting the industry.
Helge Adne Lien, Managing Director of DNB Bank, will give a keynote address on the first day. He will discuss the financial aspects of the seafood business and emphasise the prospects and hazards facing Scotland’s salmon farming industry. Dr Martin Jaffa, an industry veteran, will then lead a session in which he will examine the impact of sea lice on wild fish stocks and question common beliefs about them.
After that, the program will change to a panel discussion titled “Beyond the horizon – the next 25 years of finfish aquaculture,” which will be organised by the Sustainable farming Innovation Cluster (SAIC). Key industry players including Anne Anderson, Stewart Graham, Mike Spain, Chris Matthews, and Mark Shotter will contribute to the conversation, which will examine long-term tactics and innovations influencing the industry.
Scientific research will be a major focus on both days, with sessions supported by the UK Research and Innovation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Experts from top universities, such as the University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of Aberdeen, and Bangor University, as well as the Scottish Association for Marine Science and the University of Stirling Institute of Aquaculture, will discuss innovations in everything from electric aeration systems and plankton monitoring tools to sea lice detection and disease-resistant breeding.
The Young Aquaculture Society will lead a panel discussion on social responsibility, animal welfare, food security, and the changing business environment at the start of day two.Mike Berthet of Aquacultured Seafood will present ideas for a ground-breaking recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) initiative to bring salmon farming to Grimsby during the conference’s closing session.
Apart from the keynote addresses, the event will include the Innovation Theatre, which will showcase new technology and startups that are transforming the sector. Businesses and organisations including Sonardyne and TidalX will provide presentations on subjects like offshore technologies, robotics, and autonomous aquaculture systems. The increasing importance of automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in fish farming will also be discussed in panels hosted by SAIC in collaboration with the National Robotarium.
Event Director Cheri Arvonio of Diversified Communications said the response to the programme has been strong. “We are delighted to announce details of our keynote programme at Aquaculture UK and look forward to welcoming a wide range of aquaculture experts over the two days,” she said, adding that the Glasgow edition is expected to draw significant interest as the sector continues to evolve rapidly
This year’s event marks Aquaculture UK’s departure from its previous location in Aviemore and the start of a new era. As the industry comes together to discuss ideas influencing aquaculture’s future, organisers expect record attendance, with over 250 exhibitors from over 20 nations already registered.
Check the full programme schedule: https://go.pardot.com/e/465882/conference-programme-/3jtw6xj/6527119797/h/uWdjPD56nXRdlZUWeUUVaSuVv82L6HWFJDM_2HzXSA8
To know more about the event visit : https://go.pardot.com/e/465882/2026-04-17/3jtw6xf/6527119797/h/uWdjPD56nXRdlZUWeUUVaSuVv82L6HWFJDM_2HzXSA8
