Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2021

This report is based on the returns of an annual survey questionnaire sent to all active authorised fish farming businesses in Scotland during 2021. Statistics on employment, production and value are presented.


4. Other Species

The Scottish aquaculture industry has continued to farm other species of fish during 2021. The production of brown/sea trout (Salmo trutta) showed a small decrease, with the majority of production being for the angling restocking market. In 2020 there was production of halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) but the figure cannot be published without revealing the production from an individual company. Lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus) and several species of wrasse (Labridae) were also produced in 2021. The production of lumpsucker and wrasse are targeted at the marine Atlantic salmon industry where they are used as a biological control for parasites. Lumpsucker and wrasse figures were amalgamated into a single cleaner fish category as separate publication of lumpsucker data would reveal the production of an individual company.

Company, Site and Production Data

Table 40: Number of companies and sites producing other species in 2021, annual production of other species (tonnes) during 2018-2021 and projected production in 2022
Species No. of companies No. of sites 2018 Production tonnage 2019 Production tonnage 2020 Production tonnage 2021 Production tonnage 2022 Production tonnage*
Brown/sea trout 8 9 20 25 24 23 20
Halibut 1 3
Cleaner fish▲ 2 4 20 16 19 38 23

* Industry estimates based on stocks currently being on-grown.

† Production occurred but this cannot be shown without revealing the figure for an individual company.

‡ Estimate provided but cannot be shown without revealing the figure for an individual company.

▲ Amalgamated lumpsucker and wrasse figures (excluding larval stage fish)

Staffing

Table 41: Number of staff employed in farming other species during 2012-2021
Year Full-time Male Full-time Female Total Full-time Part-time Male Part-time Female Total Part-time Total Staff
2012 22 3 25 19 2 21 46
2013 26 3 29 17 4 21 50
2014 25 4 29 17 3 20 49
2015 33 2 35 11 4 15 50
2016 38 5 43 14 6 20 63
2017 37 8 45 13 4 17 62
2018 37 8 45 11 4 15 60
2019 32 6 38 10 5 15 53
2020 19 3 22 9 4 13 35
2021 22 6 28 11 2 13 41

In 2021, the overall number of staff employed in the production of other species increased by six, to 41.

Production of Cleaner fish

Table 42: Number (000’s) of cleaner fish (lumpsucker and wrasse) produced during 2015-2021
Species Number of fish produced (000’s)
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Cleaner fish▲ 310 380 983 656 719 576 689

▲ Amalgamated lumpsucker and wrasse figures (excluding larval stage fish)

In recent years lumpsucker and wrasse spp. have been produced for use as a biological control for parasites in the marine Atlantic salmon industry. Data on the number of fish produced has only been collected since 2015. These figures do not include production of larval stage cleaner fish which may be traded for on-growing at facilities outside of Scotland, shortly after hatching.

Ova Laid Down to Hatch

Table 43: Source of ova from other species laid down to hatch during 2021
Species Source of ova laid down to hatch (000’s)
Own broodstock Other GB broodstock Foreign ova
Brown/sea trout 10 88 0
Halibut 0 0 0
Cleaner fish▲ 59,204 0 700

▲ Amalgamated lumpsucker and wrasse figures

Trade in Small Fish

Table 44: Trade in small fish of other species in 2021
Species Bought (000’s) Sold (000’s)
Brown/sea trout 26 17
Halibut # 0
Cleaner fish▲ 900 60,104

▲ Amalgamated lumpsucker and wrasse figures

# During 2021 there was trade of small halibut but figures cannot be shown without revealing the figure for an individual company.

There was also a small amount of production of brook charr (Salvelinus) and tiger trout (Salmo trutta x Salvelinus fontinalis). However, due to the small number of companies in production, it is not possible to summarise these data without revealing the production of individual companies.

Organic Production

Of the 16 sites recorded as producing other species in 2021, no organic production was reported.

Escapes

There were no reported escapes from sites rearing other species during 2021.

Contact

Email: lorna.munro@gov.scot

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