The total volume of fish landings by UK vessels decreased 7% in February this year compared to the corresponding month of 2022 to 34,175 tonnes, according to the latest data from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). However, the value of those landings increased by 4% to GBP 53.2 million.
MMO reports that landings in February 2023 mostly comprised pelagic species (49%). This was driven by landings of mackerel and herring which are a typically heavily targeted fisheries in the winter months with the UK pelagic fleet transitioning from mackerel to herring stocks once their quota is utilised.
Landings of shellfish species increased by 77% when compared with February 2022 which translated to an 81% or GBP 10 million increase in value landed. This was driven by increased activity by the under-10-metre English and Welsh fleets that typically target shellfish species.
The cumulative quantity and value of fish landed by the fleet for the first two months of this year was 139,481 tonnes and GBP 205.8 million, up 5% and 10% respectively.
