The quantity and value of the United Kingdom’s seafood landings increased from 2009 to 2010, according to figures released by the UK’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on Thursday.
Last year, the country’s seafood landings (by domestic and foreign vessels) reached 606,300 metric tons valued at GBP 719.3 million, up about 4 percent in quantity and 7 percent in value from the previous year.
Pelagic fish represented nearly half of UK seafood landings, totaling 285,500 metric tons in 2010, down just slightly from 2009, while value of the mackerel haul fell 6 percent to GBP 178.6 million.
It was a good year for cod. The cod catch jumped 14 percent to 25,800 metric tons in 2010. The haddock catch, however, dropped about 3,000 metric tons to 33,600 metric tons in 2010.
Overall, the groundfish catch totaled 168,800 metric tons, a 5 percent increase from 2009. Following haddock and cod were plaice at 16,400 metric tons, saithe at 16.1 metric tons and whiting at 9,200 metric tons.
As for shellfish, landings were up 13 percent to 152,000 metric tons in 2010. In fact, the scallop catch, at 43,900 metric tons in 2010, was up 80 percent from 2006. Following scallops were nephrops at 38,700 metric tons, crabs at 28,500 metric tons and whelks at 14,500 metric tons.
The report, “The UK Fishing Industry in 2010: Landings,” is available on the MMO website.
