Publication - Statistics
Scotland's Marine Economic Statistics 2023
Statistics on the economic contributions of Scotland’s marine sectors. Includes a time series of approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA), turnover and employment for industrial categories defined as part of the marine sector.
Part of
Marine economy
Scotland’s marine economy includes activities dependent on the marine environment. They provide an important source of income and employment across Scotland. Some key points are:
- In 2023, the marine economy generated £5.6 billion in approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA), 3% of the overall Scottish economy.
- In 2023, the marine economy employed 75,900 people (headcount), 2.9% of the total Scottish employment.
- Between 2022 and 2023, the marine economy’s aGVA increased by 4%.
- The longer term trend shows that between 2014 and 2023 the marine economy aGVA fell by 10%.
Sector performance
The economic contribution of some sectors, such as oil and gas support services, decreased their economic contribution over the past ten years. Other sectors have increased their contributions. The main changes are:
- In the longer term, from 2014 to 2023, the approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA) from fishing increased by 10% to £394 million.
- From 2014 to 2023, the aGVA from aquaculture increased by 37%.
- From 2014 to 2023, the aGVA from ship building decreased by 19%. However, the aGVA increased by 22% from 2022 to 2023.
- Construction and water transport services aGVA decreased by 30% from 2014 to 2023.
- The oil and gas support services aGVA decreased by 13% from 2014 to 2023.
- Marine and coastal tourism aGVA decreased by 2% from 2014 to 2023.
- The Scottish offshore wind sector, which is not included in the overall marine economy numbers due to limitations estimating approximate Gross Value Added, had an estimated turnover of £2.6 billion in 2023.
- From 2014 to 2023, the turnover from the Scottish offshore wind farm industry increased by 2024%.