Seafood & Fish

Seafood: There’s no finer catch

Scotland and its many islands enjoy the perfect setting for seafood – our nation is surrounded by more than 11,600 miles of coastline. 

Harvesting the best the sea has to offer

Besides a global reputation for both farmed and wild salmon, Scotland boasts some of the world’s finest haddock, cod, brown crab, lobster, langoustine, mackerel, monkfish, mussels, oysters, scallop and trout – our vast lochs and wide rivers as richly abundant as our seas.

Enjoyed across the world

Did you know that seafood is Scotland's second-largest export after our famed whiskies, reaching the plates of consumers in more than 100 countries? We trade with the EU, US, China, Canada, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea and Australia. Our shellfish farming sector alone saw a remarkable 61% increase in value to £9.8 million in 2022 – with langoustines, our most valuable shellfish stock, increasing in value by 17%.

Scottish Salmon: internationally renowned

Salmon remains Scotland’s (and the UK’s) largest food export with over £580 million worth of Scottish salmon exported to more than fifty countries every year. It’s also UK consumers favourite fish with annual retail sales topping £1.2 billion. Every year Scotland produces over 150,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon. Put this in terms of healthy meals – high in nutrients and protein – and you could set places for more than 970 million diners. Salmon remains the UK’s single most valuable fish product, worth over £1.2 billion at the farm gate.

Scottish Shellfish

A massive 109kt of native oysters were harvested from Scottish waters in 2022, along with 9kt of (mostly rope-grown) mussels. Farmed scallop output increased by 44%, while production of native oysters rose by an incredible 100%. Then there are consistently huge landings of langoustines. These are Scotland’s most prized and valuable shellfish. They help raise the Scottish shellfish market’s overall annual worth to almost £10m.

Quality Assurance

Scotland's seafood industry enjoys a reputation for consistency, skill and unwavering commitment to quality. Accountability and traceability are all-important, too: fishing vessels greater than 12 metres are fitted with compulsory vessel monitoring systems and electronic logbooks. This means buyers worldwide can be sure seafood conforms to the highest standards of quality, safety, traceability and sustainability. Scotland’s regulatory strengths, voluntary schemes and accreditations guarantee those standards right across the industry. Local conservation measures, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and exacting regulations on fishing gear all contribute to the preservation of Scotland’s unique species, habitats and marine features.

With bodies like Seafood Scotland and Salmon Scotland to represent the industry, there’s no better place for produce to be fished, monitored and managed responsibly.