Scottish shellfish farm production survey 2016

Production

The survey indicates that the shellfish species cultivated in Scottish waters in 2016 were:

Production was dominated by mussel and Pacific oyster, although small quantities of scallop, queen scallop (queen) and native oyster were also produced. The 2016 production data for each species by region are given in Table 1.

Table 1: Scottish shellfish production by region, 2016.

NB: this report lists regions with active shellfish farms operated by Authorised Aquaculture Production Businesses.
Conversion to weight used the following assumptions (based on industry figures): individual oysters averaged 80g; individual scallops averaged 120g; individual queens averaged 40g.
Table = sales directly for human consumption;
on-growing = sales to other businesses for on-growing.

Table production by species is illustrated in Figure 1 ( see below), while trends in production for the table market and on-growing in Scotland are presented in Table 2.

Table 2: Trends in production data for the table and on-growing 2007-2016.

Mussel production, for the table, increased by 6% in 2016 ( see figure 1) to 7,732 tonnes. This is the highest level of mussel production recorded in Scotland. The greatest contribution in regional mussel production was from Shetland, accounting for 5,686 tonnes or 74% of Scotland's total. Pacific oyster production increased by 31% from 2015. The Strathclyde region produced 61% of Scotland's farmed Pacific oysters. Queen scallop production increased by 370% since 2015 and the production of farmed scallops increased by 17%, both these sectors continue to target small niche markets. Production of native oysters increased by 0.5% from 2015. Native oyster production accounts for a small percentage of total oyster production, however, demand for this species continues to be high. Historical data for all shellfish species show that production levels vary year on year, this can be due to a number of different factors such as poor spat fall, algal toxins, poor growth, adverse weather and fluctuations in market prices.

Figure 1: Table production by species 2007-2016

Prices of farmed shellfish fluctuated throughout the year. Their value at first sale was estimated from the following figures (supplied by industry these vary with demand, level of production and geographical area of origin). The average price of Pacific oyster was £0.39 per shell; native oyster, £0.60 per shell; scallop, £2.03 per shell; queen scallop, £0.12 per shell and mussels £1300 per tonne. The value of the table trade is estimated from the production figures shown in Table 1 ( see above).

The 2016 total value, at first sale for all species, was calculated at approximately £11.7 million, a increase from £10.1 million estimated in 2015.