SALMON IS THE UK’S FAVOURITE FISH AS SALES RISE BY MORE THAN 9%

Salmon is the UK’s favourite fish as sales rise by more than 9%. Salmon is the UK’s most popular fish, with the latest figures showing sales up 9.1 per cent in a year.
As families stocked up for Christmas and New Year, sales hit more than £1.2 billion in the 12 months to June, accounting for over a quarter (28 per cent) of all fish bought in the UK.
The year-on-year growth for salmon outpaced the 4.8 per cent rise recorded for all fish. In the chilled seafood sector, salmon maintained its leading position, holding 48 per cent of the value share among the top 10 chilled species and selling around four times more than warm water prawns, its closest competitor.
Smoked salmon – a Christmas staple – makes up 25.2 per cent of salmon sales, with demand rising further during the festive season.
Trade body Salmon Scotland said the figures reflect strong demand and consumer confidence in Scottish salmon, raised in the waters off the Highlands and islands.
Separately, exports are on track for a record-breaking year, with third-quarter data showing international sales up 11 per cent to £191 million between June and September, bringing the nine-month total to £622 million.
This surpasses the £618 million full-year total from 2019, the highest on record. Growth has been driven by increased exports to key markets including France, the USA, and China, with Taiwan and Singapore rounding out the top five.
Each quarter of 2024 has seen rises in both volume and sales, with April-to-June recording the largest growth.
Scottish salmon, farmed in five areas across Scotland’s west coast and northern islands, remains the UK’s largest food export.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:
“Scottish salmon’s success as the UK’s biggest food export is well known, but salmon is also by far the most popular fish here at home. Salmon accounts for more than a quarter of all UK seafood sales, with consumers eager for a highly nutritious, locally sourced meal.
“While this is fantastic news for the health of the nation, it also highlights how vital salmon is for our economy, supporting thousands of jobs – both in remote coastal communities and across Scotland.
“The popularity of Scottish salmon continues to soar, both at home and abroad, and we are heading for a record-breaking year. This reflects the strong consumer confidence in Scottish salmon, which remains as robust as ever.”