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Press release

Increase in value of fish landed by UK fleet

Date issued: 30 August 2012
Reference: 09/12

New statistics published today by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) show an increase in the value of fish landed by the UK fleet in 2011 compared with 2010.

The 'UK Fishing Industry in 2011: Landings' report – available on the MMO website – provides a comprehensive overview of the quantity and value of species landed by UK and foreign vessels into the UK and by UK vessels landing abroad in 2011.

The statistics show that during 2011 UK vessels landed 600,000 tonnes of sea fish (including shellfish) into the UK and abroad with a value of £828 million. This represents a 1 per cent fall in quantity but a 15 per cent increase in value compared with 2010. The rise in value is primarily due to an increase of more than 40 per cent in the average value of pelagic fish.

The report is published in advance of the full UK Sea Fisheries Statistics in September, in a drive to provide data to the public as soon as statistics are available. A separate report on the structure and activity of the UK fleet was published in July.

In 2011:

• 67 per cent of the quantity and 75 per cent of the value of landings by the UK fleet were made into the UK
• nearly half of all landings of pelagic fish by UK vessels were abroad. In contrast, only 4 per cent of shellfish landings by the UK fleet were made abroad
• the UK fleet accounted for 86 per cent of all fish landed into the UK
• landings into the UK by foreign vessels fell by 39 per cent to 67,000 tonnes (largely a result of a fall in landings of blue whiting)
• shellfish formed the majority of landings by the UK fleet into England, Wales and Northern Ireland while pelagic fish had the highest share of landings into Scotland
• Scottish vessels accounted for 60 per cent of the quantity and value of landings by UK vessels, while English vessels accounted for 28 per cent of the quantity and 30 per cent of the value of the landings – Peterhead remained the port with the highest landings in 2011, although these were down by 13 per cent from 2010 levels to 107,000 tonnes
• 99 per cent of the pelagic fish and 95 per cent of the demersal fish landed by the UK fleet were caught by vessels in a producer organisation – almost half of all shellfish were landed by vessels in the non-sector and the 10 metre and under pool.

The full report, and more detailed supplementary tables, can be seen at www.marinemanagement.org.uk/fisheries/statistics/annual.htm

Notes to editors

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) regulates the seas around England, including the management of fisheries.

The MMO has the difficult balancing task of ensuring that stocks are managed throughout the year to maximise fishing opportunities for the UK industry, whilst ensuring that stocks are not overfished and the UK government and taxpayer does not have to pay steep penalties.

We are continually working with the fishing industry to improve day-to-day management with accurate catch limits and forecasts that secure longer fisheries, while safeguarding the welfare of fish stocks.

The MMO, through the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), awards millions of pounds every year to the fishing industry and communities.