A brief overview of the seafood industry in the UK and elsewhere.
There is a huge variety – over 100 species – of seafood regularly available in the UK. Some of it is caught domestically, much imported. To demystify some of the key features of seafood in the UK, on these pages we provide an overview of the way the industry operates, together with some key industry numbers.
Around 12,000 persons employed to work on UK fishing vessels.
More than 6,000 fishing vessels operating in the UK. Many of these are operated by a single person and around 80% are under 10m in size.
Largest Port for each UK nation is: Fishguard, Belfast, Brixham and Peterhead. Volume seafood landed by UK registered vessels.
Total value of UK landed fish and shellfish is approaching £1 billion.
Total weight of UK landed fish and shellfish is around 750,000 tonnes each year.
Most of our seafood though is imported, more than 80% of what we eat as a nation.
Most of what we catch and land in the UK is actually exported to overseas markets.
We have a thriving aquaculture industry mainly producing farmed Salmon, Trout, Mussels and Oysters. More than 200,000 tones each year.