Scotland's Marine Economic Statistics 2022

Statistics on the economic contributions of Scotland’s marine sectors. Includes a time series of approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA), turnover and employment for industrial categories defined as part of the marine sector.


Seafood processing includes the processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs. While fish processing is mainly land based, it is highly dependent on fish landed from Scottish waters. So, fish processing has been included within the marine economy. Scottish Annual Business Statistics is the source of the seafood processing data. See Data and Methodology for more information.

In 2022, Seafood processing generated £412 million aGVA: 0.25% of the Scottish economy and 8% of the marine economy aGVA. Seafood processing employed 6,400 people, 0.24% of Scottish employment and 9% of marine economy employment.

In 2022, the aGVA from seafood processing increased by 1% from the previous year. The longer term trend, from 2013 to 2022, decreased by 12%. Employment decreased by 10% between 2013 and 2022.

Figure 6. Seafood processing aGVA decreased from a high of £504 milion in 2014. From 2015 to 2022, the aGVA remained stable at around £400 million.

Seafood processing aGVA by year, 2013 to 2022

Figure 6: Line graph showing seafood processing aGVA by year, 2013 to 2022.  From 2015 to 2022, the aGVA remained stable at around £400 million.

A geographic breakdown of seafood processing economic data is not available.

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