Overseas ports benefit from Scots fishing hauls

Published on Wednesday 20 May 2009 22:04

SCOTS fishing boats are landing more of their catches in overseas ports, figures showed yesterday.

More than 370,000 tonnes of fish, worth 395 million, were landed in total last year, according to Scottish Government figures.

The figure compared with the previous year's similar tonnage, which was worth 373 million.

But within these overall totals the amount of fish landed abroad went up from nearly 70,000 tonnes worth 40 million in 2007 to 95,000 tonnes worth 53 million last year.

The figures also showed that the number of active fishing vessels based in Scotland increased from 2,191 in 2007 to 2,205 at the end of last year.

But the number of vessels longer than 10 metres had fallen by 25 per cent since 2000, reflecting the impact of two decommissioning schemes.

The new figures underline the value of shellfish to the Scottish fleet.

Shellfish landings accounted for only 17 per cent by volume of the total landings but for 39 per cent by value, with a total value of 155 million for the 65,000 tonnes landed.

The number of fishermen employed on Scottish-based vessels last year was 5,448 – similar to the year before but way below the level of 6,900 in 2000.