Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2022

Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2022 Key Points

Sea fish and shellfish landings in 2022

The fishing industry value has increased from last year but hasn't returned to 2019, pre-pandemic levels. The value of landings has risen less than general inflation between 2019 and 2022:

• Scottish vessels landed 429 thousand tonnes of sea fish and shellfish with a gross value of £617 million in 2022. An increase of four per cent in the real value and a two per cent decrease in the tonnage compared to 2021.
• Compared to 2019, whilst there has been a nine per cent increase in the tonnage landed, the real value of these landings has fallen by five per cent.
• Scottish vessels landed 162 thousand tonnes of sea fish and shellfish worth £167 million abroad in 2022. Landings abroad make up 38 per cent of tonnage and 27 per cent by value.

Performance of each sector

The four per cent increase in real value landed by Scottish vessels between 2021 and 2022 was driven by demersal and shellfish species. The actual changes were:

• The real terms value of demersal landings increased by nine per cent.
• The real terms value of shellfish landings increased by five per cent.
• The real terms value of pelagic landings increased by one per cent.

The two per cent decrease in tonnage landed by Scottish vessels between 2021 and 2022 results from a decrease in shellfish and pelagic fish landings:

• Shellfish landings decreased seven per cent by tonnage and pelagic landings decreased by three per cent.
• Demersal landings increased by six per cent.

Key species

• Mackerel remained the most valuable species in 2022 worth £213 million, making up 35 per cent of the total value of Scottish vessels' landings.
• Monkfish was the most valuable demersal species and represented six per cent of the total value of Scottish vessels' landings.
• In 2022, 1,415 tonnes of creeled Nephrops were landed by Scottish vessels with a value of £16 million. Eighteen thousand tonnes of trawled Nephrops were landed worth £67 million.

The Scottish fishing fleet

The number of active Scottish vessels has remained stable at 2,038, increasing by one per cent compared to 2013:

• The Scottish fleet is dominated by vessels that are ten metres and under in length with a total of 1,545 vessels falling into this category in 2022. There are 493 over 10 metre vessels.
• Compared to 2013, the ten metre and under fleet has increased by eight per cent while the over ten metre fleet has decreased by 17 per cent.
• The over 40 metre Scottish vessels make up just one per cent of the number of vessels but landed 45 per cent of all landings by value.

Employment on Scottish fishing vessels

• In 2022, 4,117 fishers were working on Scottish vessels, down 124 fishers compared to 2021.
• Since 2013, employment on Scottish vessels has fallen nine per cent.

Scottish Sea Fisheries Overview Statistics 2022

Landings by Scottish registered vessels

429,235 tonnes (2% decrease) worth £617 Million - (4% increase)

Three most valuable species are Mackerel, Nephrops and Monkfish.

% of total value landed

Mackerel 35%

Other pelagic 10%

Monkfish 6%

Other demersal 22%

Nephrops 13%

Other shellfish 15%

2,038 Active Scottish registered vessels

493 over 10 metre vessels

1,545 10 metre and under vessels

4,117 Fishers employed

Irregulary employed 18% (753)

Regularly employed 82% (3,364)