Scottish fish landings 'at lowest level since 2006'

The value of landings by Scottish-licensed fishing vessels at ports in Scotland last year was the lowest since 2006, according to official figures.

Scottish government statisticians estimated that the value fell by £59m to £309m.

There was also a fall in tonnage, led by a reduction in mackerel, as well as white fish and prawns.

The total volume landed by Scottish-registered vessels in the UK and abroad declined by 8% to 440,000 tonnes.

The value dropped by 15% to £437m.

Landings outside Scotland included 121,000 tonnes of mainly pelagic fish landed at Norwegian ports.

There was a sharp drop in landings at Scottish ports by foreign-licensed fishing boats - from 62,000 tonnes in 2014 to 37,000 tonnes - again led by mackerel.

The value of foreign landings was down from £68m to £49m.

Mackerel remains the most valuable stock to the Scottish fleet, accounting for 30%, or £131m, of the total value of Scottish fish landings.

The market price was down 20% last year, and tonnage fell 17%, bringing the total value of the mackerel catch down by 33%. The market for such fish has been disrupted by a Russian ban on European Union seafood imports.

There were higher prices for hake, herring, scallop and prawns but prices fell on more significant stocks of haddock, cod and monkfish.

The value of shellfish landings by Scottish vessels was down 11% from 2014, at £134m, as the quantity landed declined 6%.

Among white fish, there was a 27% rise in the amount of monkfish landed, rising to 6% of the total value of Scottish landings last year.