Scotland’s mussel and oyster farming sectors recorded harvest decreases of 5 percent and 21 percent respectively last year, while the overall value of these products dropped by GBP 400,000 (USD 587,635, EUR 525,617) to GBP 10.1 million (USD 14.8 million, EUR 13.3 million), according to figures published in Marine Scotland Science’s latest Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey.
Some 7,270 metric tons (MT) of mussels worth GBP 8.8 million (USD 12.9 million, EUR 11.6 million) were produced in Scotland in 2015. Although this is lower than in the previous year, it was still the second highest figure on record.
The biggest contribution in regional mussel production was from Shetland, which accounted for 5,565 MT or 77 percent of the country’s total.
Pacific oyster production was worth GBP 1.1 million (USD 1.6 million, EUR 1.4 million), with 2.6 million oysters produced for the table and 5.8 million sold for on-growing.
Native oyster production dropped by 17 percent, from 242,000 to 200,000 shells, worth GBP 120,000 (USD 176,269, EUR 157,672).
