Steven Carter

E: Steven@steven-carter.co.uk
M: +44 (0)7385 336558

  • Marine Engineer combining extensive sea-going experience with a strong academic foundation

  • A decade of leading-edge industry expertise in seafood innovation from ocean to plate

  • Drawing on first-hand at-sea experience and degrees in Marine Engineering, Marine Management, and a Master’s in Project Management

  • Successfully led Research & Development at Macduff Shellfish, delivering transformative innovations including;

    • Offshore - advanced bait and gear solutions

    • Onshore - ground-breaking product development and process optimisation

    Driving smarter, more sustainable results across the seafood supply chain.

Innovative Seafood Solutions.

Areas of Expertise

  • Delivering complex seafood industry projects with excellence, consistently meeting deadlines and budget targets. Skilled in managing multi-stakeholder initiatives with meticulous attention to detail, providing transparent and timely communication to ensure seamless execution from concept through to completion.

  • Bridging the gap between current realities and future possibilities by providing visionary guidance to both tactical cost savings as well as strategic direction. Empowering seafood processors and harvesters to unlock new opportunities and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.

  • Turning ideas into impact through hands-on, data-driven trials. Specialising in developing and delivering cutting-edge research and innovation projects that enhance processes, products, and sustainability within the seafood industry.

  • Dedicated to fostering a thriving and responsible seafood sector. I deliver solutions that embed environmental and social sustainability at their core, helping clients meet regulatory requirements, minimise impact, and future-proof their operations.

  • Unlocking financial support for innovation with a proven track record in securing both public and private funding. Skilled in guiding clients through every stage of the application process to maximise success rates.

  • Experienced in identifying eligible R&D activities and preparing robust tax credit claims, ensuring compliance while maximising financial returns on innovation investments.

  • As the representative for Sea-Flux in Scotland I work with vessels across multiple industries, introducing them to the system and helping them adopt it effectively, ensuring they gain the maximum benefit from the it’s capabilities.

    Sea-Flux is a cloud-based, digital vessel management software that was built by seafarers, from real pain at sea, to empower safer, smarter maritime operations through streamlined and digitally connected vessel management.

    With intuitive mobile-first tools for full-crew engagement, Sea-Flux is trusted by more than 1,300 vessels worldwide, almost 10,000 users, across commercial, government, search and rescue, tourism, transport, and luxury charter vessels.

My Approach

Strategy rooted in real-world innovation

True innovation begins where the action is - at sea and on the factory floor.  I don’t just fix problems; I identify untapped potential and craft bold strategies that maximise value and drive significant ROI.

By aligning practical insights with strategic vision, I lead transformational change that delivers measurable, lasting impact and redefines what is possible.

Collaboration that drives lasting impact

I don’t just consult - I collaborate. Bringing fishers, processors, technical experts, regulators, and researchers together, I turn ideas into real-world solutions.

From the first pilot to full adoption, I stay hands-on, removing barriers, adapting strategies, and refining approaches so change isn’t just implemented, it’s truly embraced. The result: measurable improvements that endure long after the project ends.

Case Studies

    • Challenge: A processor faced recurring issues with foreign bodies and inaccurate size grading on their whelk processing line.

    • Approach: Led a root-cause investigation through hands-on data collection trials to identify quality and grading issues. Conducted controlled small-scale solution trials to determine the most effective and cost-efficient fixes.

    • Outcome: Implemented optimal changes and provided end-to-end support, including post-implementation testing, confirming that all issues were resolved.

    • Challenge: A vessel fleet sought to redesign fishing gear to catch more, cost less, last longer, and remain compliant with strict regulations.

    • Approach: Directed the entire project - design, at-sea trials, and implementation - collaborating closely with fishers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders. Prototypes were systematically tested at sea to assess performance.

    • Outcome: Delivered a new gear design that met all objectives within budget and schedule, resulting in successful adoption across the fleet.

    • Challenge: A processing facility wanted to enhance the fresh and frozen quality of their king scallop products.

    • Approach: Worked with internal teams to identify potential improvements. Ran processing trials to evaluate small changes to handling and storage procedures. Verified impact through microbiological, sensory, and shelf-life testing.

    • Outcome: Achieved significant improvements in product quality and shelf life. Data from trials was leveraged as a marketing tool to attract new customers.

    • Challenge: A fleet needed to replace their onboard preservative due to regulatory changes while maintaining product quality and shelf life.

    • Approach: Researched and shortlisted new preservative options, then coordinated vessel-specific trials. Conducted extensive quality, shelf-life, and microbiological testing to evaluate performance.

    • Outcome: Implemented a compliant preservative across the fleet which had zero impact to quality and met all regulatory and operational goals.

Testimonials

Jane - Senior Director, R&D and Innovation, Clearwater Seafoods

“Steven Carter has the rare ability and experience to see something from ocean to plate.  This competency has proven itself many times to be invaluable in carving out strategic change that ‘works’ across fleet and on-land, right through to the end-user.  And it is critical to success in ensuring that solutions implemented on one side of the business are both feasible throughout the supply chain and embraced.

But Steven’s greatest talent is not ‘what’ he offers but ‘how’ he does it.  Steven is as approachable on the factory floor as he is in the boardroom.  His style of engagement brings the best out in a team whilst ensuring that the natural frictions that occur with change are met head-on and quickly extinguished.  Although equally talented in the strategic as he is in the tactical, put him on your toughest projects!”

Duncan Watt - Macduff Shellfish - Operations Director

“During Steven’s time as our Research and Development Lead Steven consistently brought innovative ideas to the table, driving product and process improvements and creating new methods to cut costs and reduce waste. He combined his technical knowledge of shellfish science with a practical understanding of food safety, regulatory requirements to maintain the highest standards of quality and food safety.

Steven successfully fostered collaboration across departments, bridging R&D, production, and quality assurance to deliver results efficiently and effectively. From optimising processing methods to introducing sustainable sourcing initiatives, Steven played a central role in strengthening our reputation for excellence and innovation in the seafood sector.

Steven is a strategic thinker, a problem-solver, and above all, a passionate advocate for quality and innovation by developing commercially smart solutions bringing value to the business and our customers.

I would highly recommend Steven to any business seeking a R&D partner.”

Marc Hamel – Adams & Knickle Ltd – General Manager

“Steven has a deep understanding of the benefits of production efficiency and product quality. From my experience with past projects, his operational knowledge of the fishing industry, combined with a practical, hands-on approach, delivered measurable results every time. From planning through execution, his leadership and attention to detail were exceptional. Highly recommended for any operation seeking real, lasting improvements.”

James Spencer - Sylvia Bowers DS8 - Skipper

“Steven has been involved in numerous Research and Development projects onboard my vessel, anywhere from mechanical dredge improvements & testing and recording catch rate comparisons, to fish hold ice and storage trials improving shelf life & quality of fresh king scallops. In sometimes unforgiving offshore environments, Steven worked well with our crew and their working patterns, always keen and willing to help over and above his project scopes onboard. I have no doubt any project that Steven is involved in will include 100% of his time and effort.”

Get in touch

E: Steven@steven-carter.co.uk
M: +44 (0)7385 336558