Fish landings in Scotland in May 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 May 2026. The Scottish ones are set out below. The landings are by all UK
and foreign vessels.
2. It was a quieter month for the Scottish fishing industry, with a -4% fall in the value of landings and -6% in the tonnage, compared with May 2025.
3. That was worse than the UK totals, which were a +7% rise in value despite a -1% fall in tonnage. Scotland accounted for 50% of the UK value and 57% 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 (+54%), Scrabster (+10%) and Lerwick (+1%). The biggest declines were in Kirkcudbright (-84%), Kinlochbervie (-17%) and Peterhead (-10%).
5. Three of the ports recorded increases in tonnage – Scalloway, Scrabster and Fraserburgh – and the other 6 falls.
6. The value per tonne of fish landed averaged £2,504, which was +2% higher than in May 2025. That average was -11% lower than the UK average of £2,827, which is surprising.
7. There were huge variations in value in Scotland, from £3,243 per tonne in Scalloway and £2,978 in Lerwick to £1,835 in Scrabster and £1,847 in Kinlochbervie.
8. Peterhead is by far the busiest fishing port in the UK, accounting for a massive 30% of the total Scottish value and 15% of the total UK value in May. The tonnage shares were 53% of the Scottish total and 19% of the UK. It was a disappointing month for Peterhead, however, with the value of landings down -10% to £8.6 million and the tonnage down -11% to 3,739. The average value per tonne was £2,290, which was -9% lower than the Scottish average.
9. Lerwick had the second highest value of landings, with just under £3.2 million. That was +1% higher than in 2025 although the tonnage was -2% lower. The average value of £2,978 was the
second highest in the country.
10. Fraserburgh had the third highest value of landings, with just under £2.9 million. That was down -1% on 2025, despite the tonnage being +13% higher. The average value per tonne was £2,337.
11. Ullapool ranked 4th by value with just under £2.8 million, which was -5% lower than in the same month of last year and the tonnage was down -24%. The average value was £2,867 per tonne.
12. Scrabster ranked 5th with just under £1.3 million, which was +10% higher than in May 2025 and the second biggest % increase in the country. The tonnage was up by +19%. The average value was £1,835 per tonne.
13. Kinlochbervie ranked 6th with £1.1 million, which was -17% lower than last year. The -20% tonnage fall was even worse. A disappointing month for the Sutherland harbour. The average value was £1,847 per tonne.
14. Scalloway ranked 7th with £733,000, which was +54% higher than last year. The tonnage was up +46%. By far the biggest increases in Scotland. The average value of £3,243 was also the highest.
15. Kirkcudbright (8th) had another dreadful month with just 8 tonnes landed (yes, just 8!) and a value of only £28,000.
16. It was a quiet month for the Other Scotland ports and harbours. Their combined value of landings was down -2% on 2025 and their tonnage also down -2%. They accounted for 28% of the total Scottish value and 25% of the tonnage. First 5 months of 2026
17. I have added the value totals for the first 5 months of 2026. The Scottish total of £170 million is down -26% on the same period of 2025. That is obviously very disappointing.
18. The totals for the various ports and harbours are:
Image: ©Fish Focus