UK Seafood Federation welcomes DEFRA action to improve local and sustainable food procurement across England’s public sector.
Federation Supports Move to Strengthen Sustainable Food Sourcing
The UK Seafood Federation has welcomed a recent announcement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) aimed at strengthening local and sustainable food procurement across England’s public sector.
The initiative will see selected local authorities in England receive grant funding to improve food sourcing for schools, hospitals and other public services. The support was announced by Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle and applies to a public sector that spends nearly £5 billion per year on food and catering in England.
The Minister outlined the opportunity to improve public health while backing local businesses and helping to build a more sustainable food supply chain.
Support for Seafood in Public Sector Diets
Dan Aherne, CEO of Woocheen Group incorporating New England Seafood, and responsible lead for the UK Seafood Federation’s seafood consumption growth initiative, welcomed the announcement.
He said:
“Our Federation has a mission in making seafood a bigger part of the British diet. The leadership shown by Minister Eagle to introduce healthier, sustainably sourced food into councils and communities is strongly welcomed. We hope the Federation and its members can support local councils in making sustainable seafood choices, achieve NHS dietary requirements and shape healthy outcomes for those who are catered for.”
Mr Aherne also outlined the Federation’s willingness to support public sector bodies with the procurement of seafood products, including British seafood of all types, and the creation of menus for all budgets that lead to positive public health and environmental outcomes.
Industry Collaboration and Consumption Growth
The UK Seafood Federation is a membership organisation that acts as the voice of the UK seafood industry, with a focus on making seafood a bigger part of the British diet for a healthier nation and planet.
Following its Consumption Conference in October 2025, the Federation embarked on creating a working group including Seafish and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The aim is to realise the potential to create a cohesive seafood category, develop a strong positioning for seafood, and establish a set of messages, arguments, stories and compelling examples supporting increased seafood consumption.
The Federation highlighted that seafood consumption represents a positive choice for the planet, being lower carbon, low water and involving no deforestation. Sustainably sourced seafood also plays a role in promoting enhanced physical and mental health.
Seafood was further highlighted as supporting communities and economies around the world, offering significant diversity for consumers across a wide range of budgets.
