Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2023

4. Other Species

The Scottish aquaculture sector has continued to farm other species of fish during 2023. The production of brown/sea trout (Salmo trutta) showed a decrease, with the majority of production being for the angling restocking market. In 2023 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 2023. The production of lumpsucker and wrasse are targeted at the marine Atlantic salmon sector 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 2023, annual production of other species (tonnes) during 2022-2023 and projected production in 2024.

Note: The 2024 production values are sector estimates based on stocks currently being on-grown. Halibut production and estimated production figures cannot be shown without revealing the figure for an individual company. Cleaner fish represents amalgamated lumpsucker and wrasse figures (this figure excluded any larval stage fish).

Data Source: Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2023, Supplementary Tables, Table 40.

Staffing

In 2023, the overall number of staff employed in the production of other species decreased by five, to 37.

A full break down of staff numbers by gender can be found in the: Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2023, Supplementary Tables, Table 41.

Production of Cleaner fish

Table 42: Number (000’s) of cleaner fish (lumpsucker and wrasse) produced during 2015-2023.

Note: Cleaner fish represents amalgamated lumpsucker and wrasse figures (this figure excluded any 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 sector. Data on the number of fish produced has only been collected since 2015. These figures were for adult fish and did not include production of larval stage cleaner fish which may have been traded for on-growing at facilities outside of Scotland, shortly after hatching.

Data Source: Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2023, Supplementary Tables, Table 42.

Ova Laid Down to Hatch

Table 43: Source of ova from other species laid down to hatch during 2023.

Note: Halibut own broodstock ova was laid down to hatch but this cannot be shown without revealing the figure for an individual company. Cleaner fish represents amalgamated lumpsucker and wrasse figures.

Data Source: Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2023, Supplementary Tables, Table 43.

Trade in Small Fish

Table 44: Trade in small fish of other species in 2023.

Note: During 2023 there was trade of small halibut but figures cannot be shown without revealing the figure for an individual company. Cleaner fish represents amalgamated lumpsucker and wrasse figures.

The number of cleaner fish sold increased from 7.4 million in 2022 to 19.8 million in 2023. Many of these fish were larval stage fish which were traded for on-growing at facilities outside of Scotland.

There was also a small amount of production of brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis), tiger trout (Salmo trutta x Salvelinus fontinalis) and European eel (Anguilla anguilla). 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.

Data Source: Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2023, Supplementary Tables, Table 44.

Organic Production

Of the 10 sites recorded as producing other species in 2023, no organic production was reported.

Escapes

There were no reported escapes from sites rearing other species during 2023.