VOLUME DROP FOR SCOTTISH CATCHES IN 2019

Volume drop for Scottish catches in 2019

The Chief Statistician has released figures that show that in 2019, Scottish registered fishing vessels landed 393 thousand tonnes of sea fish and shellfish with a gross value of £582 million. This is a 12% decrease in tonnage and a 1% decrease in real terms value (adjusted for inflation) from 2018.

There were 2,098 active Scottish registered fishing vessels in 2019, an increase of 9 vessels from 2018 due to growth in the ten metre and under fleet. The number of fishers working on these vessels was 4,886, which is up 1% on 2018.

Landings of shellfish species have seen an increase in both tonnage and value relative to 2018. Tonnage caught increased by 17% to 62 thousand tonnes and real terms value increased 10% to £196 million.

Between 2018 and 2019, landings of mackerel decreased by 16% in tonnage and there was a 5% decrease in value. Mackerel remained the most valuable species in 2019, representing 27% of the value of all Scottish vessels’ landings.