Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2015

// Production

The survey indicates that the shellfish species cultivated in

Scottish waters in 2015 were:

Production was dominated by mussel and Pacific oyster, although small quantities of scallop, queen scallop (queen) and native oyster were also produced. The 2015 production data for each species by region are given in Table 1.

Table 1: Scottish shellfish production by region, 2015.

NB: THIS REPORT LISTS REGIONS WITH ACTIVE SHELLFISH FARMS OPERATED BY AUTHORISED AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION BUSINESSES.

CONVERSION TO WEIGHT USED THE FOLLOWING ASSUMPTIONS (BASED ON INDUSTRY FIGURES): INDIVIDUAL OYSTERS AVERAGED 80g; INDIVIDUAL SCALLOPS AVERAGED 120g; INDIVIDUAL QUEENs AVERAGED 40g.

TABLE = SALES DIRECTLY FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION;

ON-GROWING = SALES TO OTHER BUSINESSES FOR ON-GROWING.

Table production by species is illustrated in Figure 1, while trends in production for the table market and on-growing in Scotland are presented in Table 2.

Table 2: Trends in production data for the table and on-growing 2006-2015.

Mussel production, for the table, decreased by 5% in 2015 ( see figure 1) to 7,270 tonnes, this is the second highest production level of mussels on record. The greatest contribution in regional mussel production was from Shetland, accounting for 5,565 tonnes or 77% of Scotland's total. Pacific oyster production decreased by 21% from 2014. The Strathclyde region produced 79% of Scotland's farmed Pacific oysters. Queen scallop production increased by 83% since 2014 while the production of farmed scallops decreased by 38%, both these sectors continue to target small niche markets. Production of native oysters decreased by 17% from 2014. Native oyster production accounts for a small percentage of total oyster production, however, demand for this species continues to be high. Historical data for all shellfish species show that production levels vary year on year, this can be due to a number of different factors such as poor spat fall, algal toxins, poor growth, adverse weather and fluctuations in market prices.

Figure 1: Table production by species 2006-2015.

Prices of farmed shellfish fluctuated throughout the year. Their value at first sale was estimated from the following figures (supplied by industry these vary with demand, level of production and geographical area of origin). The average price of Pacific oyster was £0.39 per shell; native oyster, £0.60 per shell; scallop, £1.89 per shell; queen scallop, £0.11 per shell and mussels £1217 per tonne. The value of the table trade is estimated from the production figures shown in Table 1.

Mussel: £8.8 million
Native oyster: £0.12 million
Queen: £0.004 million
Pacific oyster: £1.1 million
Scallop: £0.06 million

The 2015 total value, at first sale for all species, was calculated at approximately £10.1 million, a decrease from £10.5 million estimated in 2014.