Global trade is central in supplying the European demand for seafood. Apart from the Norwegian (European Economic Area (EEA) member) Atlantic salmon sector, aquaculture in the European Union (EU) is lacking scale, and growth capacity is undermined by cheaper (imported) alternatives sourced from capture fisheries and aquaculture. Urbanisation and rising income levels are driving global demand for high-value carnivorous species already farmed in Europe, but there is a high dependency on imported feed ingredients, which are responsible for most costs and environmental impacts of fed aquaculture production. We combined a (scientific) literature and market observatory review with a secondary data analysis of the EEA seafood industry and markets to develop a comprehensive sustainable growth framework for aquaculture. We identified four main strategies to enhance the resilience of the European seafood market. Firstly , seafood from fisheries and aquaculture are being produced as a continuum, rather than a dichotomy. These systems are, and will remain, interlinked, in terms of production sites and nutrient flows. Therefore, i t is crucial to optimise nutrient availability from both systems by encouraging consumption of the edible portion of a variety of wild fish but ensuring their processing wastes and fish species without a ‘food’ market are used in aquafeeds. Secondly, low input aquaculture species, such as common carp, seaweed and bivalve aquaculture might better fit with in a landscape food production system, but demand needs to be stimulated through post-harvest processing that increases both economic performance and resource efficiency. Thirdly, the responsible sourcing of aquafeed ingredients within Europe, that does not compete directly with human food supply but is well integrated within a circular economy model, could play an important role. Fourthly, such a circular model could also be applied downstream in the value chain, which could benefit from the strategic processing and utilisation of aquaculture processing by-products into food, feed and industrial applications. Consequently, aquaculture volume and value could be increased without the need for additional resources, enhancing the economic and environmental performance. To unlock this potential, exchange of knowledge, technology and infrastructure across species and production systems in the EEA is crucial.