Marine Directorate statistics: Code of Practice compliance

Statistical Publications and Production Cycle

The planned production cycles and key dates for each of the Marine Directorate’s Official Statistics publications, including any planned stakeholder engagement, are summarised below.

Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics production timetable

(Provisional and final publications are derived from the same underlying dataset.)

• January – February: Collection of information from fisheries offices on the number of fishers working on Scottish fishing vessels.
• May: Publication of provisional Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics.
• June: Engagement with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) around UK‑wide fisheries statistics.
• September: Publication of the final Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics by the end of September.
• October: Update fishing effort and quantity and value of landings by ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) rectangles published on the Marine Directorate’s data publishing portal.

Scottish Salmon and Sea Trout Fishery Statistics production timetable

(Provisional and final publications are derived from the same underlying dataset.)

• Early October: Issue annual salmon and sea trout catch return forms and supporting information to fishery proprietors and managers.
• October – January: Receive returns, validate data, resolve queries with respondents as required, and update records.
• End of January: Enter late returns received for previous years.
• February: Publish provisional Scottish Salmon and Sea Trout Fishery Statistics.
• April – May: Publish the final Official Statistics.

Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey production timetable

• December: Issue shellfish farm production survey forms to all active aquaculture businesses.
• January – March: Receive completed survey returns, carry out validation checks and follow up on non‑responses where required.
• May: Publish the final Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey by the end of May.

Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey production timetable

• December: Issue fish farm production survey forms to all active aquaculture businesses.
• January – June: Receive completed survey returns, carry out validation and follow up on non‑responses where required.
• September: Publish the final Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey.

Marine Economic Statistics production timetable

• May: Issue aquaculture economic survey forms to selected aquaculture businesses.
• June: Receive survey returns and follow up on non‑responses where required.
• August – October: Receive bespoke extracts from the Scottish Annual Business Statistics dataset covering marine industries. Timing is dependent on data availability.
• December: Publish Marine Economic Statistics.

Review of Outputs and Processes

Production processes and publication schedules are kept under review to ensure statistics remain timely, coherent and aligned with user needs and related UK‑wide statistics. Risks and dependencies, including data availability and response rates, are monitored as part of routine planning.

Any material changes to methods, content or timing are documented within the relevant statistical publications.

Planned Developments and User Engagement

The Marine Directorate will continue to review its Official Statistics outputs to ensure they remain relevant, accessible and meet user needs.

The statistical production activities and publication schedules set out in this work programme represent the Directorate's planned statistical priorities for the reporting period. In addition, the Directorate will seek opportunities to:

• maintain the quality, timeliness and accessibility of Official Statistics publications;
• ensure coherence with related UK-wide statistics where appropriate;
• review data collection and production processes to identify efficiencies and reduce burden on data suppliers and respondents;
• improve the presentation and dissemination of statistics where this would enhance value for users.

Any significant changes to statistical publications, methods, data sources, quality assurance processes or dissemination arrangements will be identified within the relevant statistical publications and reflected in future work planning.

General user feedback response times, actions, and explanations where identified user needs cannot currently be met are covered in the Public Involvement and Engagement section. Findings from user engagement activities are considered as part of the ongoing review and development of Marine Directorate Official Statistics. We will publish summaries of significant user feedback, resulting plans and actions here. More detailed information on user feedback and resulting actions will be covered within the relevant statistical publications.