Fewer fishing boats catch more fish

John Kinsman

Scottish fishermen last year reached a 10-year record of 358,000 tonnes of fish, up 15% on 2010 and worth £500 million. Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Fisheries secretary, said the increase was driven by mackerel, with landings worth £164 million. Mackerel accounts for nearly a third of the overall Scottish total, and Mr Lochhead remarked, “That’s why the EU must urgently progress plans for sanctions to address the reckless over-fishing of mackerel by Iceland and the Faroes. Otherwise this valuable fishery may not be there in the years to come.” He claimed that the Scottish success “comes against the backdrop of a continued focus by Scottish fishermen on long-term stock conservation,” but did not explain how this worked.

There are now 2,096 actively working fishing boast in Scotland, 54 fewer than previously. 5005 fishermen are employed on Scottish fishing boats, a drop of over 230, but the figures suggest that they enjoy greater profits.