Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2023

In 2023, 3,793 fishers were working on Scottish vessels, representing 0.1 per cent of the total Scottish labour force [9]. The number of fishers working on Scottish vessels fell by eight per cent (down 326 fishers) between 2022 and 2023 (Table 44 and Chart 11).

Although employment in the fishing fleet is a small percentage of total employment in Scotland, employment in fishing accounts for a higher percentage of employment in island  communities (Shetland three per cent, Orkney one per cent, Na h-Eileanan Siar two per cent) and in Argyll and Bute (one per cent) (Table 46).

Fraserburgh is the district with the largest number of fishers (705) accounting for 19 per cent of the total in 2023. It is also the district with the largest number of fishers who work regularly, with 623 regularly employed fishers. Shetland had the most irregular fishers (92), accounting for 16 per cent of the total fishers in this category.

Chart 11. Since 2014, employment on Scottish fishing vessels has fallen by 13 per cent. There was a 15 per cent decrease in regular employment and a three per cent decrease in irregular employment since 2014.

Number of fishers working on Scottish vessels, 2014 to 2023.