FISH LANDINGS IN SCOTTISH PORTS AND HARBOURS 2020-24

Fish landings in Scottish ports and harbours 2020-24. A note by Tony Mackay, Economist. tony@tonymackay.co.uk

1. The Scottish Government published detailed fish landings statistics for all the ports and harbours in Scotland a few days before Christmas. Some of these had previously been published by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The landings are by all Scottish, other UK and foreign vessels.
2. I publish a monthly report on the fish landings in Scotland, with the last one having the November statistics. It included the 11 months’ totals for 2025 to date. The MMO monthly statistics list 9 ports/harbours in Scotland with the “Other Scotland” group including about 10 harbours and ports. However, the 2024 statistics give the statistics for those ten as well as the main ones.
3. The new report gives the annual statistics for each of the 5 years from 2020 to 2024. However, in my table below I have just included the average for the 5 years as well as those for 2024 and the differences.

4. The value of fish landings in Scotland in 2024 totalled £587.6 million. That was +18% higher than the 5 year average of £499.5 million, which was obviously very good news. The value increased in each of the 5 years. These values are in real terms, taking account of inflation.
5. The annual value totals were:

• 2024 £587.6 million = +8.2%
• 2023 £543.2 million +6.9%
• 2022 £508.3 million +14.1%
• 2021 £445.5 million +7.8%
• 2020 £413.1 million.

6. The tonnage in 2024 totalled 377,712, which was +20% higher than the 5 year average of 314,349. It was fairly static 2020-22 but rose substantially in both 2023 and 2024.

• 2024 377,212 +13.4%
• 2023 332,538 +14.6%
• 2022 290,147 +2.3%
• 2021 283,606 -1.6%
• 2020 288,243.

7. In 2024 demersal fish accounted for 37% of the value of landings, pelagic 36% and shellfish 27%. The main demersal species were cod, haddock and monkfish; the main pelagic ones were mackerel and herring; and nephrops were the main shellfish.
8. There were very big geographical differences in the species landed, as noted below.
9. The tables give a breakdown of the landings by the geographical origins of the vessels. In 2024 Scottish vessels accounted for 89.4% of the total value of landings, those from the Rest of the UK (RUK) 6.7% and foreign vessels 3.9%.
10. Some Scottish vessels also land fish outwith Scotland. The 2024 breakdown was:

• In Scotland £525.6 million = 69.5% of the total
• Rest of UK £24.3 million = 3.2%
• Overseas £206.5 million = 27.3%
• Total £756.4 million.

11. I was surprised by the high overseas share. The two main countries were Norway (£126.4 million; 17% of overall total) and Denmark (£56.3 million; 7%).
12. The table above shows that Peterhead is by far the most important fishing port in Scotland, accounting for 42.3% of our total value in 2024 and 57.3% of the tonnage.
13. An interesting feature of the statistics is the huge geographical variations in the average value of landings. The Scottish average was £1,558 per tonne in 2024. The Peterhead average was much lower at £1,150. The highest average was in Portree at £7,361 …. a big surprise.
14. The differences are mainly explained by the importance of shellfish, which is much more valuable than the demersal and pelagic species.
15. The table below ranks the ports and harbours by the average value of landings in 2024.

16. I find it very difficult to explain these rankings. In particular, the bottom two in the rankings – Peterhead and Shetland – are the two most important fishing locations in Scotland!
17. Peterhead is by far the most important fishing port in Scotland and the UK. In 2024 it accounted for 42.3% of the total value of landings in Scotland and 57.3% of the total tonnage. The value of landings has increased in every year since 2020. My note on the November 2025 landings shows a further +15% rise in the value in the
11 months to date in 2025.
18. The breakdown of the 2024 landings value was: pelagic (58% of the total), including mackerel (45%) and herring (10%); demersal 35%; and shellfish 7%. Mackerel are by far the most important species.
19. Shetland has done similarly well, with increases in every year since 2021. In 2024 the islands accounted for 29% of the Scotland total value and 20.7% of the tonnage total. The value of landings in Lerwick was +4% higher in the first 11 months of 2025.
20. The breakdown of the 2024 landings value was: pelagic (57% of the total), including mackerel (44%) and herring (12%); demersal (38%0, including cod (10%), haddock (7%) and monkfish (6%); and shellfish (6%), including scallops. That breakdown is very similar with that for Peterhead.
21. Fraserburgh ranked third in the rankings in 2024 but a very long way behind Peterhead and Shetland. Its share of the value total was 6.1% and of the tonnage 5.4%. The value of landings increased in every year and the tonnage in every year except 2023. In 2024 shellfish accounted for 60% of the local value total, demersal 32% and pelagic 9%.
22. Scrabster ranked fourth in the 2024 rankings but has experienced declines recently. The 2024 total value was -4% below the 5 year average and the tonnage was -16% lower. Landings there peaked in 2022. The 2024 breakdown was demersal 82%, with a wide variety of species, and shellfish 18%.
23. Ullapool has also had recent problems. The 2024 value of £21.6 million was -6% below the five year average and the tonnage -24% lower. However, my latest monthly report shows massive +119% increases in value and +169% in tonnage in the first 11 months of 2025. In 2024 demersal fish accounted for 55% of the value of landings, with the main species being haddock and monkfish; and shellfish 42%, with the main species being nephrops and squid.
24. Kinlochbervie had an excellent 2024, with a +33% rise in the value of local landings to £17.1 million and a +59% rise in the tonnage to 5,121. However, the 2025 statistics to date show big falls. Boats seem to have preferred to land in Ullapool this year. Demersal fish accounted for 89% of the 2024 value, with the main species being haddock, monkfish and cod; and shellfish the other 11%.
25. Lochinver has had a disappointing few years, with the 2024 value being -6% below the average and the tonnage -25% below. In 2024 demersal fish accounted for 88% of the value of the local landings, with the main species being blue ling, hake and ling; and shellfish the remaining 12%.
26. Stornoway ranked 8th of the ports/harbours in 2024, with landings value of £16.0 million and tonnage of 3,472. The former was +39% higher than the five year average and the latter +16% higher. Both value and tonnage increased in every year since 2020. However, Stornoway is not included in MMO’s monthly statistics and therefore not in my monthly notes. It is included in “Other Scotland”, as are the rest of the harbours and ports below.
27. Campbeltown ranked 9th in 2024, with landings value of £14.7 million and tonnage of 3,475. The former was +35% higher than the five year average but the tonnage -3% lower. A big difference! Virtually all the local landings are shellfish, notably scallops.
28. Ayr had landings value of £11.4 million, which was just -1% below the five year average. The 6,951 tonnage was +21% higher, however. All landings were shellfish. Average value of just £1,638 was surprisingly low.
29. Oban had landings of £10.4 million, which was +1% above the five year average. The 2,204 tonnage was also +1% higher. The value increased in every year until 2024, when it fell by -20%. Shellfish accounted for 92% of the 2024 landings.
30. The Orkney Islands have a much smaller fishing industry than neighbouring Shetland. The 2024 value of £9.4 million was +8% higher than the five year average but the 2,226 tons were -5% lower. Shellfish accounted for 89% of the 2024 landings.
31. Portree on Skye had landings valued at £8.7 million, which was +6% higher than the five year average. The 1,183 tons were +3% higher. Shellfish accounted for 89% of the 2024 value, notably nephrops (74%; and  demersal the other 11%. The average value per tonne of £7,361 was the highest in Scotland, which surprised me.
32. Mallaig recorded landings worth £7.2 million, which was +22% above the 5 year average. The tonnage of 1,807 was +15% higher. The value increased in every year until 2024. There has been a big increase in nephrops landings.
33. Eyemouth had landings valued at £6.9 million, which was -6% lower than the 5 year average. The 1,536 tonnage was -15% lower. There was a big fall in 2024, in contrast with the rises in 2021 and 2022. All the landings are shellfish.
34. Anstruther had landings valued at £6.7 million, which was +15% higher than the 5 year average. The 1,413 tonnage was -4% lower than the average. There were big increases in 2021 and 2022. All the local landings are shellfish.
35. Aberdeen has a very tiny fishing industry for a very busy harbour, which is dominated by the North Sea oil and gas industry of course. The £3.9 million fish landings in 2024 were only 0.7% of the Scottish total and the 714 tonnes only 0.2%. However, the average value of £5,522 per tonne was the 2nd highest in the country.
36. Finally, Buckie on the Moray firth recorded landings valued at just under £3.8 million for 1,136 tonnes. The former was the same as the 5 year average but the tonnage -10% lower. All the landings were shellfish.