Aberdeenshire Sea Fisheries Statistics 2016 from the Scottish Government Sea Fisheries Bulletin

From mountain to sea Aberdeenshire Sea Fisheries Statistics 2016 From the Scottish Government Sea Fisheries Bulletin Published December 2017 Planning Information and Delivery Team North East Sea Fisheries Statistics 2016 Key Facts of all fish 53% landings into Scotland were 185,305 tonnes ( 16%) made into the North East districts worth £216 million ( 39%) ports were landed into the North East 76% of all Scotland’s herring is landed into the Species landed into the North East by highest total value generated North East Tonnes (‘000) Value (£’000) 66,149 Mackerel £56,273 56,429 £35,814 20,318 £26,432 Haddock 20,838 £27,997 10,933 £22,799 9,623 Cod £18,284 30,256 £19,593 2016 2015 20,803 Herring £7,218 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 1,271 Fishermen employed in the North East ( 3%) 18% are part-time Fish species by total value landed into the North East 25% of all Cod Scottish fishermen 11% All other are based in Aberdeenshire, species Haddock 27% 12% comprising 1% of Herring the local workforce Monkfish 9% 7% Nephrops 8% Mackerel 26% Introduction Data in this bulletin is taken from the Scottish Government’s Sea Fisheries Statistics, 2017 publication, analyzing data from 2016. Within this bulletin the North East refers to the districts of Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Aberdeen and all their associated ports (see below). North East Districts: Peterhead includes all recorded landings Peterhead, Boddam and Port Errol Fraserburgh includes Fraserburgh, Gardenstown, Macduff, Pennan, Portsoy, Rosehearty, Sandhaven and Whitehills Aberdeen includes Aberdeen, Arbroath, Catterline, Gourdon, Johnshaven, Montrose and Stonehaven North East Fishing Ports Overview Employment 2016 Over the last 10 years, since 2007, fishermen employment levels across Scotland have decreased by 11% (Table 1). The North East has been particularly badly hit over this period with sea fishery employment levels falling by 14% (Table 2). The Aberdeenshire fishing districts of Peterhead and Fraserburgh account for the majority of fishing employment in the North East. In 2016, Fraserburgh employed 780 fishermen, up 4% from 2015, while Peterhead employed 382, which was an increase of 3% from the previous year. Aberdeen employed 110 fishermen, down 2% over the 12 month period. The number of fishermen employed on Scottish based vessels by region is shown in Figure 2. Vessels and Fleet 2016 In 2016 Fraserburgh had 207 active vessels, the second highest fleet of any Scottish district and a 4% increase on the number of active vessels in 2015. Stornoway had the highest total number of active vessels at 208, a 1% decrease from the previous year. The North East’s total number of active vessels stood at 396, making up 19% of Scotland’s total active fleet (up 0.7% from 2015). While the region had a lower proportion of the smaller sized vessels the region accounted for 52% of all active Scottish vessels over 40metres in length. Collectively these vessels undertook 8,732 voyages, an increase of 5% from 2015 and accounting for 13% of all voyages taken by Scottish fleet (Table 10). Quantity and Value of Landings 2016 In 2016 just over 185,300 tonnes of fish were landed into ports in the North East of Scotland (Table 4). This represented 53% of the total landings into Scotland (348,563 tonnes Table 6a/b) and an increase of 2% for national contribution. The most recent data on the fishing industry shows that the total volume of fish landed in the three North East port districts, Aberdeen, Fraserburgh and Peterhead increased by 16% between 2015 and 2016. This compares to a national increase of just 11% in landing tonnes over the same period. Proportionally shellfish landings saw the biggest landing increase, up 31% (+2,534 tonnes) from 2015, however in real terms pelagic catches went up by over 19,000 tonnes (+21%). Aberdeen was the only north east district to see a decline in the volume of fish landed, decreasing by 9% from 2015. However it should be noted that a very low volume of fish is landed into Aberdeen, compared to the other North East Districts, representing, just 1% of the local total (Table 7a/b). In 2015 the “Fresh Catch” fish processor in Peterhead caught fire, resulting in many vessels being diverted to a sister processer in Shetland. As the factory has since been replaced this, at least in part, explains the recovery in the North East’s landing figures since the previous report. With an increase in the quantity of fish landed in the North East predictably there has also been a rise in the total value landed into the region as well (Table 5). However the increase in value between 2015 and 2016, was 39%, proportionally over double the quantity increase during the same period. This can be attributed to the market value of fish key to the North East also increasing. While haddock, hake and nephrops all dropped in value, herring and mackerel (the most valuable fish to the North East) have seen their price per tonne rise by 80% and 35% respectively over the last 12 months (Figure 4). This rise in the market value of herring, coupled with an increase in the North Sea quotas available have contributed to a significant increase in the volume of herring landed into the North East in 2016. Proportionally Fraserburgh saw the most notable increase of over 1000% (+1,123 tonnes) compared to 2015, however Peterhead still had by far the highest volume landed at 29,051 tonnes (+40%). In 2010 almost 13,000 tonnes of shellfish were landed into Fraserburgh, making up 20% of Scotland’s total shellfish catch. However by 2016 this volume had decreased to 5,456 tonnes and contributing only 10% to Scotland’s total volume of shellfish (an increase of 2% from 2015). However the value of the shellfish landed in Fraserburgh is still the highest of all Scottish districts and contributes to 12% of the national total (Table 8a/b). Both in terms of quantity and value Peterhead remains the largest port in the UK and among the largest in Europe, particularly in the landing of white fish and pelagic catches. Compared to a disappointing year in 2015 overall tonnage landed in Peterhead has risen by over 40% in the subsequent 12 month period. The district contributed to 46% of the total national catch, up 2% from 2015 (Table 9a/b). Industry News Peterhead Fishing Port Investment Peterhead’s fishing port has received £5 million investment from the Scottish Government and the European and Maritime Fisheries Fund to allow the Peterhead Port Authority (PPA) to expand the floor space of its fish market by 50 per cent. This expansion will bring together key services and facilities allowing fleets to complete port calls quicker. This investment forms part of the larger plans for a £49M redevelopment of Peterhead’s inner harbour. Full details are plans are available from the Peterhead Port Authority website. Work is currently well underway with the expansion set to be completed in early 2018. Sustainable Cod is on the Menu! From the early 1970’s until 2006 cod stocks in the North Sea were brought to the brink of collapse when numbers plummeted by over 80%. Since this crisis point however the industry has made a concerted effort, working with the Scottish Government and EU Fisheries Council to agree and implement a ‘Cod Recovery Plan’. This included banning catches in nursery areas, limiting the number of days fishing and put larger holes in nets to allow young cod to escape. The success of the recovery plan was marked in July 2017 when, after an 18 month independent review the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) granted the North Sea cod sustainable status. You can now identify ethically sourced cod in supermarkets by looking for the MSC certified logo. For more information see the Marine Stewardship Council Sea Fisheries Statistics Tables Table 1: Number of fishermen employed on Scottish based vessels: 2006 2015 Table 2: Number of fishermen employed on Scottish based vessels, by region, 2016 Table 3: Number of fishermen employed on North East based vessels 2016 Table 4: Quantity (tonnes) North East total landings by district Table 5: Value (£'000) North East Landings by district Table 6a: Quantity (tonnes) all landings into Scotland: all Scottish ports by main species 2014 –16 Table 6b: Value (£’000) all landings into Scotland: all Scottish ports by main species 2014 –16 Table 7a: Quantity (tonnes) of all landings into Aberdeen district by main species 2014 -16 Table 7b: Value (£’000) of all landings into Aberdeen district by main species 2014 -16 Table 8a: Quantity (tonnes) of all landings into Fraserburgh district by main species 2014 -16 Table 8b: Value (£’000) of all landings into Fraserburgh district by main species 2014 -16 Table 9a: Quantity (tonnes) of all landings into Peterhead district by main species 2014 -16 Table 9b: Value (£’000) of all landings into Peterhead district by main species 2014 -16 Table 10: Number of voyages of Scottish vessels by district 2012 – 16 Table 11: Quantity (tonnes) of landings by Scottish vessels by landing district 2012 –16 Table 12: Value (£’000) of landings by Scottish vessels by landing district 2012 –16 Figures Figure 1: Total number of fishermen employed on Scottish based vessels: 2007 –16 Figure 2: Number of fishermen employed on Scottish based vessels, by district 2007 -16 Figure 3: Quantity and value of landings by district and main species 2012 –16 Figure 4: Market Value of North East’s most valuable species (2016 based prices) Table 1: Number of fishermen employed on Scottish based vessels: 2007 -16 Year Regularly Irregularly Crofters Total 2 Total Fishing as % Employed Employed 1 employed in of total Scotland 3 employment 2007 4,408 951 65 5,424 2,528,400 2% 2008 4,585 807 56 5,448 2,534,600 2% 2009 4,403 946 60 5,409 2,497,700 2% 2010 4,257 909 52 5,218 2,479,700 2% 2011 4,067 877 52 4,996 2,476,300 2% 2012 3,752 941 54 4,747 2,481,500 2% 2013 4,092 847 53 4,992 2,494,300 2% 2014 3,980 763 53 4,796 2,557,700 2% 2015 3,980 792 51 4,823 2,577,300 2% 2016 3,834 938 51 4,823 2,579,700 2% (1) Formerly referred to as part time (2) Figures are limited to those employed on vessels which submit landing declarations to Marine Scotland port offices.

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