Fish landings down at Scrabster but on the rise at Kinlochbervie
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The value of fish landings at Scrabster harbour dropped by 40 per cent in March compared to the same month last year, according to figures published by the Marine Management Organisation.
They show that the Caithness port saw a decrease of £964,000 from £2.386 million in March 2023 to £1.422 million for the same month this year. Tonnage was also down over the same period from 1047 tonnes to 741 – a reduction of 29 per cent.
However, Scrabster was not alone in experiencing a downturn as, overall, there was a 17 per cent fall in the value of fish landings in Scotland to just under £29 million, compared with March 2023, and a six per cent fall in tonnage to 29,514. That was worse than the UK which saw a six per cent decline in value but a two per cent rise in tonnage.
Commenting on the figures, Inverness-based economist Tony Mackay pointed out that Scotland accounted for 52.6 per cent of the UK value and 69.9 per cent of the tonnage of fish landed.
He said: “Seven of the nine Scottish ports/districts recorded falls in value and only two an increase. Seven also recorded falls in tonnage and only two increases. The value increases were in Kinlochbervie (12 per cent) and Lerwick (8 per cent). The biggest declines were in Fraserburgh (52 per cent), Ullapool (49 per cent) and Scrabster (40 per cent). The tonnage increases were in Kinlochbervie (47 per cent) and Peterhead (2 per cent).
“The value per tonne of fish landed fell by 13 per cent to £975 from £1121 a year ago.”
Mr Mackay added: “Peterhead is by far the busiest fishing port in the UK, accounting for a massive 37 per cent of the total Scottish value and 19 per cent of the total UK value in January. The tonnage shares were 75 per cent of the Scottish total and 52 per cent of the UK. However, there was a six per cent fall in the March value.
“Ullapool overtook Lerwick as the second highest value port, although the latter had the second largest tonnage. Kinlochbervie overtook Scrabster as the fourth highest value port.”
As previously reported, the value of fish landed at Scrabster in February rose by £468,000 to £3.1 million – an increase of 18 per cent on the same month last year. The tonnage went up by 13 per cent from 1213 to 1372 tonnes, making the Caithness port the fourth busiest in Scotland.
