Provisional statistics published this week reveal that landings by Scottish fishermen last year were worth £500 million, 15% on 2010.
Welcoming the news, Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
“It’s encouraging that the value of the Scottish catch has hit the highest level in a decade, demonstrating that the seafood landed by our fishermen is increasingly sought after, with most prices on the up.
“The increase was driven by mackerel, with landings worth £164 million, while high prices for prawns saw their worth increase to £83 million. The value of whitefish landings – led by cod, haddock and monkfish – was generally stable year-on-year, while a modest reduction in fleet size reflects trends towards greater productivity and higher landings value per vessel.
“With mackerel accounting for nearly a third of the overall total, it underlines how important this stock is to Scotland. That’s why the EU must urgently progress plans for sanctions to address the reckless overfishing of mackerel by Iceland and the Faroes. Otherwise this valuable fishery may not be there in the years to come.
“In testing economic times, Scottish fisheries continue to perform well and are making an important economic contribution – including a major slice of the record increase in Scottish food and drink exports in 2011 – while also supporting the long term viability of our coastal communities.
“This success comes against the backdrop of a continued focus by Scottish fishermen on long-term stock conservation, so that catch levels can remain sustainable for the years to come.”
