Norway–UK Seafood Summit sets the scene for 2025

A record number of industry leaders gathered on Tuesday 24th February at the historic Fishmongers’ Hall in London for the 2025 edition of the Norway–UK Seafood Summit, hosted by the Norwegian Seafood Council. This flagship event continues to unite influential voices from the seafood industry, retail, foodservice, fishing, trade organisations, media and beyond, solidifying its status as a staple on the seafood industry calendar. 

Building on the success of previous years, the 2025 Summit provided a dynamic and engaging forum for seafood stakeholders across various sectors. The programme, led by industry experts, delved into several pertinent topics, with the consensus that collaboration and stronger connections are pivotal to securing future growth. 

Opening remarks were delivered by HE Tore Hattrem, ambassador of Norway to the United Kingdom, alongside Mike Rowe, director for marine and fisheries at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). 

Researcher Daniel Howell, from the Institute of Marine Research, provided an update on the science behind Norway’s long-term fisheries management, stock development, and outlook.  

This year’s Summit also hosted the launch of the highly anticipated Norwegian Seafood Council’s Top Seafood Consumer Trends 2025 report. The report delves into the transformative megatrends shaping global seafood consumption, with sustainability, social responsibility, and technological innovation emerging as key drivers of change. These trends are driving industry-wide shifts to meet the evolving demands of global markets. 

Insights from Lars Moksness, the Norwegian Seafood Council’s Consumer Behaviour Analyst and author of the Top Seafood Consumer Trends 2025 report, highlighted the global megatrends impacting the future of the seafood industry. 

A special session on cold-water prawns, featuring contributions from the Norwegian Fishermen’s Sales Organisation, Hilton Foods Seachill, and the Norwegian Seafood Council, discussed the supply outlook, consumer trends shaping the UK prawn market, and future opportunities. 

A panel discussion on the future of fish and chips followed, with contributions from Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers; Sarah Heward, owner, The Real Food Café; and Johan Oksholen, sales manager at Nor Seafoods, chaired by Julie Waites, executive director, Frozen at Sea Fillets Association. The panel shared insights and discussed challenges, innovations and community impact.

The summit was concluded with a standout discussion, moderated by Robin Paxton, editor-in-chief of Intrafish, bringing together leading industry representatives for an engaging session on navigating market trends and overcoming challenges.  

Victoria Braathen, UK director for the Norwegian Seafood Council, commented: “The UK and Norway share a rich history, and a long-standing relationship built on our shared love of seafood, which continues to thrive. As the industry faces evolving challenges, this year’s event provided timely insights and forward-thinking perspectives, while offering valuable networking and collaboration opportunities. Reflecting the broad scope of our seafood trade and collaboration, the programme was designed to inspire meaningful dialogue and strengthen connections across the seafood sector.” 

Norway and the UK have a long-standing seafood partnership with close relations across the industry. The UK is a key market for Norwegian seafood, and Norway remained the largest exporter of seafood to the UK in 2024. Top species exported from Norway to the UK are salmon, cod, haddock, cold-water prawns and halibut.  

Overall, the 2025 Norway–UK Seafood Summit proved to be a vital platform for industry leaders to share insights, foster collaboration, and outline a sustainable future for the seafood sector. By championing strong connections and innovation, this summit underscored a shared commitment to boosting seafood consumption and driving sustainable growth between the UK and Norwegian markets.