Seafood industry in Scotland

Scotland’s 16,000 km of beautiful, clean coastline is fished by more than 2100 vessels which land more than 440,000 tonnes every year.

With exports of Scottish seafood currently standing at over £575 million annually, Scottish seafood is in world-wide demand thanks to its high quality and fine flavour.

Scotland is also one of the largest seafood producers in Europe and is the second largest salmon producer in the world – see the salmon subsector for further details.

The seafood industry in Scotland leads the way in Europe in sustainable fisheries management yet the industry is simultaneously surrounded by tradition, heritage and pride.

The industry comprises a modern fleet, increasingly committed to sustainability fishing in one of the most biologically productive seas in the world. The industry is constantly evolving thanks to cutting-edge marine research, innovation and technology.

The scope of the seafood industry in Scotland

Scotland is one of the largest seafood producers in Europe. Scotland’s seafood businesses range from small sole traders to large multinational companies.

The focus of the industry is increasingly on sustainability and quality management, with over 130 Scottish vessels in the Responsible Fishing Scheme.

Peterhead, in the north-east of Scotland is the UK’s largest fishing port. The port landed over 117,000 tonnes of fish in 2007.

The wider seafood processing sector in Scotland comprises 230 companies, enjoying an annual turnover of £700 million. Despite the tough blows that the economy has faced in recent years, the Scottish seafood industry employs 12,000 people and is extremely important to coastal communities.