Shetland fish landings were up 8% by weight and 22% by value in 2013, bucking the Scottish trend and highlighting the industry’s importance to the islands’ economy.
New provisional figures compiled by senior policy adviser Ian Napier at the NAFC Marine Centre in Scalloway – from data provided by Marine Scotland – show white-fish landings in Shetland rose by 19% to 16,727 tonnes last year, from 14,051 tonnes in 2012.
White-fish landings in 2013 were worth £25.6million, up by 16% from £22million previously.
By comparison, there was only a tiny increase in the volume of Scottish landings of all species last year to 366,400 tonnes and the total value of fish brought ashore fell by 8% to £429million.
Shetland Fish Producers’ Organisation (SFO) said the large increase in white-fish was a key driver in the isles’ 2013 strong performance, with the markets in Lerwick and Scalloway recording a bumper 300,000 boxes for the year.
But landings of pelagic species such as mackerel were also significantly up, by 5% in volume to 54,503 tonnes and by 29% in value to £43.9million.
Shellfish landings increased by 3% in weight, with the total value remaining unchanged at £3.5million.
Shetland Seafood Auctions manager Martin Leyland said high quality stocks around the islands fetched good prices throughout the year.
He added: “The stocks are good, boats are landing after shorter trips and our competitive electronic auction are the factors which lie behind these figures.”
SFPO chief executive Brian Isbister said: “Conditions, particularly in the white-fish sector, are as good as they have been for many years. From the abundance and quality of the fish on the grounds to the prices we are seeing in the markets, it’s a positive picture.”
Shetland’s seafood industry, including the aquaculture and processing sectors, is said to be worth £300million a year.
It employs about 1,000 people directly and hundreds of others in, for example, fish processing, marketing, transport, supply and engineering.
The total economic value is worth more to the islands’ economy than the figures for oil and gas, agriculture, tourism and the creative industries combined, Shetland Islands Council said.