Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey: 2012 Report

This report is based on the returns of an annual survey questionnaire sent to all active authorised shellfish farming businesses in Scotland.


Production

The survey indicates that the shellfish species cultivated in Scottish waters in 2012 were:

Mussel: Mytilus spp.
Pacific oyster: Crassostrea gigas
Native oyster: Ostrea edulis
Queen scallop: Chlamys opercularis
Scallop Pecten maximus

Production was dominated by mussel and Pacific oyster, although small quantities of scallop, queen scallop (queen) and native oyster were also produced. The 2012 production data for each species by region are given in Table 1.

Table 1: Scottish shellfish production by region, 2012.

Region

Businesses

Mussel (tonnes)

Pacific oyster (000s)

Native oyster (000s)

Queen (000s)

Scallop (000s)

Tonnes Table

tonnes on-growing

000s Table

000s on-growing

000s Table

000s on-growing

000s Table

000s on-growing

000s Table

000s on-growing

Highland

49

985

168

323

2,663

0

672

1.5

0

54

16

Orkney

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Shetland

27

4,340

101

15

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Strathclyde

54

323

0

2,322

527

317

5

7.5

0

4

0

Western Isles

18

629

40

46

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

All Scotland

153

6,277

309

2,706

3,190

317

677

9

0

58

16

Weight (tonnes)

6,277

309

216

25

0.4

7

NB: This report lists regions with active authorised shellfish farms.

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 (see below), 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 2003-2012.

For the table

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

%change 11-12

Pacific oyster (000s)

3,488

3,586

3,070

3,138

2,603

3,093

2,900

3,008

3,136

2,706

-14

Native oyster (000s)

161

105

162

300

273

250

490

350

350

317

-9

Queen (000s)

1,124

1,118

1,441

1,510

384

687

138

184

27

9

-67

Scallop (000s)

180

85

100

87

15

15

35

64

78

58

-26

Mussel (tonnes)

3,632

4,223

4,135

4,219

4,806

5,869

6,302

7,199

6,996

6,277

-10

For on-growing

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Pacific oyster (000s)

2,640

2,510

1,467

1,685

945

26

45

1,633

1,400

3,190

Native oyster (000s)

0

0

0

0

10

0

0

300

1

677

Queen (000s)

0

600

0

0

0

0

30

0

0

0

Scallop (000s)

86

80

382

287

45

0

0

0

104

16

Mussel (tonnes)

38

61

20

68

44

30

391

175

282

309

Mussel production, for the table, decreased by 10% from the 2011 total (see Figure 1) and survey responses attribute the cause of the decrease to be environmental effects such as variation of spat settlement in time and place in recent years. The greatest contribution in regional mussel production was from Shetland, accounting for 4,340 tonnes or 69% of Scotland's total. Pacific oyster production decreased by 14% from 2011 reportedly due to losses from severe weather conditions and the impact of a significant producer ceasing to trade. Meanwhile, production of Pacific oysters for on-growing has significantly increased, supplying markets within and outwith Scottish waters. The Strathclyde region produced about 86% of Scotland's farmed Pacific oysters. Queen and scallop production target a small niche market, however production fell by 67% and 26% respectively since 2011. A contributing factor was reported as poor spat settlement. Production of native oysters decreased by 9% from 2011. Native oyster production accounts for a small percentage of total oyster production, however, demand for this species continues to be high.

Figure 1: Table production by species 2003-2012.

Figure 1: Table production by species 2003-2012.

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 £0.35 per shell; native oyster, £0.60 per shell; scallop, £1.70 per shell; queen scallop, £0.10 per shell; and mussels £1,200 per tonne. The value of the table trade is estimated from the production figures shown in Table 1 (see above).

Mussel: £7.5 million
Native oyster: £0.19 million
Queen: £0.001 million
Pacific oyster: £0.95 million
Scallop: £0.10 million

The 2012 total value, at first sale for all species, was estimated at £8.7 million a decrease from £9.8 million in 2011.

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