The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has published its annual UK Sea Fisheries Statistics for 2009. This fisheries management tool includes detailed data about the UK fishing fleet, the number of fishermen and the quantity and value of fish landings, imports and exports.
The statistics influence and complement government policy and, in conjunction with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), help inform changes to the Common Fisheries Policy.
Overall, the statistics reveal that quantities of fish landed in the UK were slightly down on last year, but the total value of fish landed increased, as fish exports increased by 15%, while imports fell by 8%.
The report also provides the latest scientific assessments of the state of key fishing stocks and their sustainability. The statistics for 2009 include:
· UK vessels landed 581,000 tonnes of fish with a value of £674 million (€777.1 million/$1.1 billion) – 1% less than 2008 in terms of quantity but a 6% increase in value.
· UK vessels landed 23,000 tonnes of cod (down 67% since 1994, the earliest year for which comparable data is available), 36,000 tonnes of haddock (down 61% over the same period) and 172,000 tonnes of mackerel (a decrease of 28% since 1994).
· 43,000 tonnes of nephrops were landed, a 41% increase since 1994. Landings of crabs have increased by 28% since 1994, to 27,000 tonnes. The amount of scallops landed was 34,000 tonnes - more than double the amount landed in 1994.
· Around 12,200 fishermen were reported as active in the UK.
· Thirty-seven percent of all fish landed by value were demersal (such as cod, haddock and sole) compared with 55% in 2000. Pelagic and shellfish comprised 28% and 35% respectively.
· In terms of quantity, 54% of the Scottish fishing fleets landings comprised pelagic fish. Ninety percent of the Welsh catch and 54% of the Northern Irish catch was shellfish while England’s fleet landed 44% pelagic fish.
· UK fish exports rose 15% compared with 2008, with the main species being mackerel, salmon and herring. The largest quantities were exported to the Netherlands, France and Russia. Fish imports fell by 8% to 720,000 tonnes. The main species imported were cod, tuna and shrimp.
