Eighty-five percent of the shellfish landed by U.K. fishermen is being exported to EU markets, achieving a combined revenue of GBP 360 million (USD 528 million, EUR 456 million) last year, according to new trade figures released by the country’s government.
Since 2012, U.K. scallop exports to France have increased by 18 percent to a record GBP 60 million (USD 88 million, EUR 76 million) in 2015, while langoustine exports to Mediterranean countries like Spain achieved a value of GBP 80 million (USD 117.3 million, EUR 101.3 million).
“With the United Kingdom exporting twice as much seafood to Europe than to the rest of the world – from scallops to France and langoustines to Spain – GBP 360 million of British seafood is heading for Europe’s markets, making a splash on their menus,” said Elizabeth Truss, U.K. environment secretary.
Exports of all U.K. fish and fish products to the EU were worth more than GBP 900 million (USD 1.3 billion, EUR 1.1 billion) to the country’s economy in 2015, almost 70 percent of the sector’s total exports. Included in this total was GBP 220 million (USD 322.7 million, EUR 278.7 million) worth of salmon exports.
Overall, 60 percent of U.K. food and drink exports go to the EU, worth over GBP 11 billion (USD 16.1 billion, EUR 13.9 billion) to its economy.
