About GBP 435 million (EUR 495.6 million, USD 688.1 million) worth of seafood was landed in Scotland last year, according to figures published on Thursday by the Scottish government.
Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics confirm that 367,000 metric tons of fish were landed by the country’s fleet last year and that, with the exception of 2009, the value of landings was higher in 2010 than in any other year in the last decade.
The Scottish fleet comprised 2,150 fishing boats last year — the smallest fleet size ever recorded — while the number of fishermen employed on Scottish boats came to 5,218, down 4 percent from 2009.
“Despite extremely challenging times — including reduced catching opportunities for key stocks and an effort scheme which has severely restricted vessels’ activities — the Scottish fleet has enjoyed another successful year,” said Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead.
“While the value of landings has dropped slightly compared to 2009, we had seen a particularly large increase in value between 2008 and 2009. Last year’s landings — worth GBP 435 million — were still 5 percent higher, in real terms, than the value of the 2008 landings,” he continued. “Looking ahead, there are a number of crucial issues which must be addressed to ensure Scotland’s fishing fleet can continue to operate successfully. These include resolving the mackerel dispute with Iceland and the Faeroes and achieving the best possible outcome for Scotland in the reform of the flawed and damaging Common Fisheries Policy.”
