FISH LANDINGS IN SCOTLAND IN JUNE 2026

Fish landings in Scotland in June 2026. A note by Tony Mackay, Economist. tony@tonymackay.co.uk

1. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) have just published their monthly fish landings statistics for the UK for June 2026. The Scottish fish landings are set out below. The landings are by all UK and foreign vessels.
2. It was another quiet month for the Scottish fishing industry, with a -3% fall in the value of landings and -1% in the tonnage, compared with June 2025.
3. That was worse than the UK totals, however, which were a +8% rise in value and +4% in tonnage. Scotland accounted for 52% of the UK value and 63% of the tonnage of fish landed.
4. Only three of the nine Scottish ports/districts recorded increases in value and the other six had decreases. The increases were in Scalloway (+112%), Fraserburgh (+21%) and Peterhead (+18%). The biggest declines were in Kirkcudbright (-48%) and Scrabster (-42%).
5. Only two of the ports recorded increases in tonnage – Scalloway and Peterhead – and the other 7 falls.
6. The value per tonne of fish landed averaged £2,265, which was -2% lower than in June 2025. That average was -17% lower than the UK average of £2,717, which is surprising.
7. There were huge variations in value in Scotland, from £3,232 per tonne in Lerwick and £3,161 in Scalloway to just £1,668 in Peterhead.

8. Peterhead is by far the busiest fishing port in the UK, accounting for a massive 35% of the total Scottish value and 17% of the total UK value in June. The tonnage shares were 47% of the Scottish total and 30% of the UK. It was a good month for Peterhead, with the value of landings up +18% to £13.0 million and the tonnage up +13% to 7,785. The average value per tonne was just £1,668, which was -26% below the Scottish average and surprising low.
9. Fraserburgh had the second highest value of landings, with £5.2 million. That was +21% higher than in 2025, although the tonnage was -1% lower. The average value of £2,979 was well above the average. A good month for the North East harbour.
10. Ullapool had the third highest value of landings, with just under £3.4 million. That was down -2% on 2025 and the tonnage was -4% lower. The average value per tonne was £2,836.
11. Lerwick ranked 4th by value with £2.6 million, which was -13% lower than in the same month of last year and the tonnage was down -28%. A disappointing month for the Shetland harbour. The average value was £3,232 per tonne, which was the highest in the country.
12. Scrabster ranked 5th with just under £1.2 million, which was -42% lower than in June 2025 and the second biggest % fall in the country. The tonnage was down by -22%. A very disappointing month. The average value was £1,748 per tonne.
13. Kinlochbervie ranked 6th with just under £1.2 million, which was -21% lower than last year. The – 4% tonnage fall was not as bad. A disappointing month for the Sutherland harbour. The average value was £1,670 per tonne.
14. Scalloway ranked 7th with £1.1 million, which was +112% higher than last year. The tonnage was up +95%. By far the biggest increases in Scotland. The average value of £3,161 was the second highest and just below Lerwick.
15. Kirkcudbright (8th) had another dreadful month with just 1 tonne landed (yes, just 1!). It should be left out of these MMO statistics.
16. It was also a disappointing month for the Other Scotland ports and harbours. Their combined value of landings was down -23% on 2025 and their tonnage down -16%. They accounted for 26% of the total Scottish value and 19% of the tonnage. First 6 months of 2026.
17. I have added the value totals for the first 6 months of 2026. The Scottish total of £207 million is down -22% on the same period of 2025. That is obviously very disappointing.
18. The totals for the various ports and harbours are:

• Peterhead £84.8 million, down -28% on last year; and 41% of the Scottish total
• Lerwick £27.0 million -31%; and 13% of the total
• Fraserburgh £16.0 million -1%; and 8%
• Ullapool £12.9 million -16%; and 6%
• Scrabster £10.3 million +5%; and 5%
• Kinlochbervie £8.0 million -11%; and 4%
• Scalloway £4.7 million +16%; and 2%
• Other Scotland £43.7 million -29%; and 21%.

Image: ©Fish Focus