The first-sale value of fish landed by Scottish vessels increased by 1 percent in 2018 to GBP 573.6 million (USD 705.1 million, EUR 645.3 million), but the total tonnage of fish landed fell by 4 percent to 445,602 metric tons (MT), according to new figures published by the Scottish government.
A pelagic catch totaling 284,807 MT was the largest contributor to the overall value with GBP 201.7 million (USD 247.9 million, EUR 226.9 million), closely followed by demersal first sales of GBP 201.3 million (USD 247.4 million, EUR 226.5 million), which was based on a volume of 107,551 MT. The shellfish catch amounted to 53,243 MT worth almost GBP 170.6 million (USD 209.7 million, EUR 191.9 million).
The Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2018 analysis confirmed that mackerel continued to be the most valuable stock to the Scottish fleet, accounting for 29 percent or GBP 164 million (USD 201.6 million, EUR 184.5 million) of the total value of fish landings. In 2018, the real terms value of mackerel landings decreased by 1 percent, while the tonnage of mackerel fell 15 percent in line with a reduction in available quota.
Cod overtook haddock as the most-valuable demersal species. Together with haddock and monkfish, it accounted for 22 percent of the total value of all Scottish landings.
Nephrops (or langoustines) remained the most valuable shellfish species, accounting for 11 percent or GBP 63 million (EUR 77.4 million, EUR 70.9 million) of the total landings value. Last year, the value of nephrops landings decreased by 18 percent and the tonnage fell by 16 percent.
The statistics also found the number of active Scottish registered fishing vessels increased by 24 from 2017 to 2,089, due to growth in the 10-meter-and-under fleet. The number of fishers working on these vessels was 4,860, which was 1 percent more.
Welcoming the figures, Scottish Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing said, “For a small nation, in an E.U. member state operating within the Common Fisheries Policy, Scotland punches well above its weight in the European fishing sector."
“We have one of the largest whitefish markets in Europe in Peterhead, our boats catch 8 percent of the total E.U. landings and the industry turnover exceeds half a billion pounds each year. Much of that money is the lifeblood of some our most vulnerable coastal communities, and so what these statistics tell us is very important," he said. “It’s therefore encouraging to see the total value of landings increase – although the story isn’t positive across the board, with the total shellfish tonnage dropping again. That’s a particular concern for an industry which could be one of the most adversely affected by the impacts of an E.U. exit, given the dependence of that sector on its export trade.”
