The first-sale value of Scottish demersal landings increased by 18 percent last year, reaching GBP 169 million (USD 216.4 million, EUR 193.5 million), based on a total volume of 95,400 metric tons (MT), up 5 percent compared to 2015, according to the latest provisional statistics from Scotland’s Chief Statistician.
Haddock, monkfish and cod are the most valuable demersal fish stocks to the Scottish fleet, in terms of monetary value. The value of haddock increased 0.5 percent in 2016 to GBP 38 million (USD 48.6 million, EUR 43.5 million), despite a 2 percent decrease in average price per MT of haddock to GBP 1,332 (USD 1,705, EUR 1,525). This is because the volume landed increased 3 percent to 28,000 MT.
The volume of cod landed in 2016 was 13 percent higher than in 2015, while the first-sale value increased 21 per cent to GBP 27 million (USD 34.6 million, EUR 30.9 million). The average price increased by 7 percent to GBP 2,103 (USD 2,692, EUR 2,408) per MT. The value of monkfish landings increased 32 percent to GBP 35 million (USD 44.8 million, EUR 40.1 million) driven by a 16 percent increase in average price to GBP 2,743 (USD 3,512, EUR 3,141) per MT from 2015. The volume of monkfish landed increased 14 percent to 13,000 MT.
Scottish hake landings achieved a first-sales value of GBP 18 million (USD 23 million, EUR 20.6 million), a 16 percent increase from 2015. This was due to an 18 percent increase in the volume landed to 8,000 MT, despite a 2 percent decrease in the price to GBP 2,353 (USD 3,012, EUR 2,695) per MT.
The value of saithe landings was GBP 8 million (USD 10.2 million, EUR 9.2 million), a 14 percent increase from 2015. While the volume decreased by 4 percent the average price increased by 18 percent.
Whiting landings achieved a first-sales value of GBP 8 million, down 6 percent decrease from 2015. The volume landed decreased by 8 percent but the price increased by three percent.
The value of plaice landings was GBP 7 million (USD 9 million, EUR 8 million), a 65 percent increase from 2015. This was due to a 31 percent increase in the volume landed and a 26 percent increase in the price. Both ling and megrim landings had a value of GBP 6 million (USD 7.7 million, EUR 6.9 million), a 38 percent and 29 percent increase from 2015, respectively.
Lastly, there was a 23 percent decrease in the volume of “other demersal” species landed in 2016. However, the value increased by 33 percent due to a 74 percent increase in the average price.
The increase in the value of these other species was mainly due to better reporting of wrasse sales, which has improved estimates of the value of landings caught by Scottish vessels. Wrasse is increasingly being used by the salmon farming industry as a cleaner fish to remove sea lice.
Overall, the Scottish fleet achieved a record first-sales value of GBP 563 million (USD 724.7 million, EUR 645.7 million) last year, up 29 percent compared with 2015. In volume terms, the total catch increased by 3 percent to 453,300 MT.
