Sustainable Aquaculture (Taught)

The Aquaculture sector in the UK was valued at £1.4bn in 2025. It’s expected to experience annual growth over the next five years, at a rate of 5.3% from 2025 to 2030 (source: IBIS World 2024). Skilled sustainable aquaculture specialists are needed to meet demand.

Our Masters in Sustainable Aquaculture explores the principles of aquaculture. It focuses on the key factors influencing the viability of aquatic animal farming and food production systems. You’ll develop an in-depth knowledge of:

aquatic animal biology,
environmental issues,
nutrition,
reproduction and genetics,
disease and health management.
You can choose to develop any of the following practical skills:

Advanced broodstock management
Aquaculture policy and planning
Livelihood analysis
Environmental management and biodiversity
Feed formulation and resources
Aquatic animal health control
Epidemiology
Ecotoxicology
You can also explore the commercial business of sustainable aquaculture. There are optional modules covering marketing, business studies and economics. Gain the skills to establish, manage, and evaluate aquaculture enterprises and development projects.

Focus on your chosen area of aquaculture
The MSc Sustainable Aquaculture lets you choose subjects that suit your career goals. Specialised degrees have more compulsory modules, than the more flexible non-specialised route. The available Sustainable Aquaculture Masters degrees are:

Master of Science in Aquaculture
Master of Science in Aquaculture (Environmental Management)
Master of Science in Aquaculture (Breeding and Genetics)
Master of Science in Aquaculture (Aquaculture Nutrition)
Master of Science in Aquaculture (Aquaculture Development and Food Security)
Gain valuable aquaculture insights on field trips
On this Sustainable Aquaculture MSc you’ll go on field trips to locations such as:

farms,
hatcheries,
processors,
feed companies,
equipment suppliers,
research laboratories.
Opportunities to carry out industry-based projects
We collaborate with aquaculture industry across more than 20 countries, partnering with all the major companies in Scotland. This strong industry network offers our students valuable opportunities to undertake industry-based research projects. Previous projects have included:

Improving ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylkta Ascanuis, 1767) skeletal health through nutritional intervention
Partners: Otter Ferry Seafish, Scottish Fish Farms, Biomar, and Mowi
Assessing genetic diversity of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in Nigeria based on genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism data
Partner: Spring Continental Harvest Ltd. (Nigeria)
Bridging Gaps in Aquaculture: A Field study on Economics and Fish Welfare in Thai Markets
Partners: Namsai Farms and Kasetsart University
Investigating Nutrient Connectivity in an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) System
Partner: Fondazione IMC Centro Marino Internazionale, Sardinia
Learn from aquaculture experts
You’ll study at the Institute of Aquaculture, one of the top institutions in this field. Their facilities include:

freshwater sites in Central Scotland;
tropical and temperate freshwater recirculation systems on campus;
marine facilities in the west of Scotland.
Take a closer look at our Institute of Aquaculture facilities.

On this Sustainable Aquaculture Masters degree you’ll be taught by aquaculture professionals from Scotland and across the world. Visiting international experts deliver some lectures and workshops. Past guest lecturers have been from commercial partners, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government agencies, including:

MOWI Scotland
Benchmark Genetics
Cooke Aquaculture
Devenish Nutrition
GenoMar Genetics
IFFO - The Marine Ingredients Organisation
Veramaris
ThinkAqua
WorldFish