A UNIVERSITY of York scientist claims a revolution in fish farming is needed to ensure sustainable production methods.

Professor Callum Roberts said aquaculture operations inflicted heavy environmental costs on wild fish stocks and coastal ecosystems, such as habitat loss, pollution, disease and pests.

"To be viable in the long term and help to feed the world, there has to be a Blue Revolution in fish farming to sustainable production methods," he said.

"Better management of wild fisheries could also boost production while helping to heal damage to ocean life."

Prof Roberts has co-authored a major study of the problem with Dr Ruth Thurston, of the University of Queensland in Australia.

Their report, published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, showed that, even accounting for imports and farmed seafood, the UK failed to import, catch or produce enough fish or shellfish for the whole population to eat the recommended two portions a week.

It said UK consumers had so far been protected from falling domestic production by increasing imports, but this demand was often filled at a high social and environmental cost in producer nations, many of which were very poor.