Why does this matter? Robust standards de-risk aquaculture for consumers and investors alike, aligning the sector with evidence that many “blue foods” deliver materially lower environmental footprints than terrestrial meats – especially on greenhouse gases and land use.

Clear, auditable rules also help unlock capital. For example, dedicated “blue finance” is scaling with the European Investment Bank’s Blue Sustainable Ocean Strategy and emerging blue-bond vehicles, with early momentum but significant headroom for expansion. Simultaneously, investors are flagging material risks – feed volatility, antibiotic resistance, sea-lice management – that standards can directly address.  

Fishing and aquaculture are governed by a mix of law, community rules and market incentives. Global treaties, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and regional fisheries management organisations, set binding quotas and technical rules. Nations enforce these through domestic laws such as the US Magnuson-Stevens Act, while some coastal communities co-manage stocks through territorial use rights.

Overlaying this, private certification schemes – such as the Global Seafood Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices – impose voluntary but commercially powerful standards. The result is fragmented yet overlapping governance spanning ocean to marketplace.

Aquaculture has shifted from the margins of the food system to its centre, now supplying nearly 60% of the world’s seafood. An estimated 90% of wild fisheries are fully fished or overfished, making aquaculture essential to meet future demand. Its importance extends beyond food supply – aquaculture is increasingly recognised as a driver of rural livelihoods, economic development and lower-emission protein production.

The challenge is ensuring this growth is underpinned by strong governance frameworks that balance efficiency with environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

According to a recent report from the World Bank, aquaculture could generate up to 22 million new jobs by 2050 and represents a $1.5tn investment opportunity. Countries such as Ecuador, Chile, Vietnam and Bangladesh already demonstrate how strategic investments can scale production while strengthening local economies.

Yet the transition from small-scale to more intensive and sustainable models require innovative financing and risk-sharing mechanisms, particularly in emerging markets. As sustainability-linked loans, blue bonds and development finance gain traction, aquaculture in our view is moving from a high-risk, underfinanced activity to one of the most promising opportunities for building a resilient and responsible global food system.

The sustainability transformation in aquaculture is already visible in the market. Ocean 14 Capital Fund 1’s portfolio offers early examples. Enthos is pioneering a circular-feed model in Latin America, where its Colombian facility will upcycle organic waste into insect protein and oil, reducing dependence on finite fishmeal while cutting methane emissions from food waste.

Meanwhile, WellFish Tech, a spin-out from the University of the West of Scotland, is advancing precision aquaculture through rapid, non-lethal blood diagnostics that give farmers near real-time insights into fish welfare. Together, these innovations show how the sector can reconcile productivity with sustainability and animal health – pointing toward a more resilient and responsible seafood economy in which investors can feel confidence.