The real-terms value of fish and shellfish landed by Scottish vessels decreased by 1 percent last year to GBP 582 million (USD 741.3 million, EUR 636.6 million), with the total tonnage falling by 12 percent to 393,000 metric tons (MT), finds a new report published by the Scottish government.
According to the latest “Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2019” report, compiled by the Marine Analytical Unit (MAU) at Marine Scotland, the decrease in catch value was driven by reduced demersal and pelagic landings, with tonnages down 11 percent and 18 percent, respectively. Landings of shellfish species increased in value.
Last year’s total demersal catch was worth GBP 191 million (USD 243.3 million, EUR 208.9 million), a fall of 7 percent compared with 2018, while pelagic species decreased 5 percent in value to GBP 195 million (USD 248.2 million, EUR 213.2 million). The shellfish value increased by 10 percent to GBP 196 million (USD 249.5 million, EUR 214.3 million), with the volume up 17 percent to 62,217 MT.
The analysis confirmed that mackerel continued to be the most valuable stock for the Scottish fleet, accounting for 27 percent of the value of all Scottish vessels’ landings with 127,628 MT of the fish generating first-sales of GBP 158 million (USD 201.1 million, EUR 172.7 million). Nephrops (or langoustines) were the second most valuable species, with revenues of GBP 86 million (USD 109.5 million, EUR 94 million) accounting for 15 percent of the total value.
With a value of GBP 41 million (USD 52.2 million, EUR 44.8 million), haddock became the most valuable demersal species overtaking cod, with monkfish third. Combined, haddock, cod, and monkfish accounted for 20 percent of the value of Scottish vessels’ landings in 2019.
The report also confirmed that over the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, pelagic landings increased in volume and value by 24 percent and 29 percent, respectively. Over the same period, shellfish landings fell by 14 percent while the value climbed by 9 percent, reflecting growth in shellfish prices despite of the value of Nephrops falling by 4 percent.
Compared to 2010, demersal landings in 2019 were 9 percent lower with the value up by 7 percent.
There were 2,098 active Scottish fishing vessels in 2019, an increase of 9 vessels from the previous year, while the number of fishers employed on Scottish registered vessels at the end of 2019 increased by 1 percent to 4,886.
Landings by Scottish vessels accounted for 60 percent of the value and 62 percent of the tonnage of all landings by U.K. vessels in 2019.
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