Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2023

Introduction to the year 2023 survey

This report is based on the returns of an annual survey questionnaire sent to all active authorised shellfish farming businesses in Scotland. These are Official Statistics published by Marine Directorate in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The cooperation of the shellfish farming sector is gratefully acknowledged. The report authors acknowledge Charles Allan, William Ellison, Stephen Ives, Andrew Mayes, Meadhbh Moriarty, Sandy Murray, Ronald Smith and Andrea Warwick for their contributions to the production of this report.

Production survey questionnaires were sent to 103 businesses registered as active during 2023 (Supplementary Questionnaire Documentation). During 2023, twelve businesses rescinded their authorisation. In 2023, one business located in the Highland area did not return their data on Pacific oyster production. In this instance, their 2022 data was used as a substitute for 2023. When these data are obtained, the relevant sections will be updated in future reports.

The survey showed that, of the 103 businesses authorised at the end of 2023, 63 recorded sales during that year. These 103 authorised businesses farmed 294 active sites, of which 169 (57%) placed shellfish on the market. Shellfish production by business and site is presented.

JM Murphy

LA Munro

June 2024

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland

These statistics are official statistics. Official statistics are statistics that are produced by crown bodies, those acting on behalf of crown bodies, or those specified in statutory orders, as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

Scottish Government statistics are regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.