Mackerel lifts value of Scotland’s 2011 catch

Thanks to a strong pelagic fish catch, Scotland’s fish landings reached a 10-year high of GBP 500 million in 2011, the Scottish government announced on Tuesday.

Last year, pelagic fish landings were up 43 percent to GBP 184 million, due to a 44 percent increase in the value of mackerel landings and an 8 percent increase in volume; mackerel is Scotland’s most valuable fishery at GBP 163 million, followed by nephrops at GBP 83 million.

Also in 2011, shellfish landings were up 6 percent to GBP 164 million, while whitefish landings held firm at GBP 152 million.

However, the number of active fishing vessels based in Scotland at the end of 2011 amounted to 2,096, down 3 percent from the previous year and the lowest total in the past decade. The number of fishermen employed on Scottish fishing vessels at the end of 2011 stood at 5,005, down 4 percent from the previous year.

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