Landings by Scottish based vessels
The value of landings by Scottish vessels increased by 10 per cent in real terms to £443 million in 2009. The volume of landings increased by 2 per cent in 2009 to 378 thousand tonnes.
Shellfish landings made up 32 per cent by value and 18 per cent by volume of all landings by Scottish based vessels in 2009, with a total value of £143 million for 69 thousand tonnes landed. The volume of shellfish landings increased by seven per cent between 2008 and 2009 while prices decreased by nine per cent in real terms.
Demersal species made up 34 per cent of the total by value and 27 per cent by volume, with a total value of £149 million for 103 thousand tonnes landed. This represents an increase in value of 5 per cent in real terms and an increase in volume of 4 per cent compared with 2008.
Pelagic species made up 34 per cent of the total by value and 54 per cent by volume, with a total value of £151 million for 205 thousand tonnes landed. This represents an increase in value of 47 per cent in real terms since 2008, while the volume landed decreased by 1 per cent.
The increased value of pelagic landings was primarily due to the increased average price per tonne of mackerel obtained by fishermen (up by 10 per cent in real terms since 2008), combined with the increased volume of mackerel landed by Scottish based vessels, up by 39 per cent. This increase in the value of mackerel landed results in mackerel replacing nephrops as the most valuable species to the Scottish fleet in 2009.
