Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2020

National Statistics publication that provides data on the tonnage and value of all landings of sea fish and shellfish by Scottish vessels, all landings into Scotland, the rest of the UK and abroad, and the size and structure of the Scottish fishing fleet and employment on Scottish vessels.

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Table 40: Number of active1 Scottish registered vessels by main fishing method2 and length group, as at 31st December 2020

  Length group (metres)
Main fishing method 10m & under >10 -12 >12 -15 >15 -24 >24 -40 Over 40 Over 10m Total
Demersal single trawl 2   2 26 25 1 54 56
Demersal pair trawl       3 14   17 17
Seine net       2 12   14 14
Lines 8       7   7 15
Demersal gill nets 1       3   3 4
Demersal twin/multi trawl       5 4   9 9
Beam trawl 3         1 1 4
Other demersal 35 5         5 40
Demersal total 49 5 2 36 65 2 110 159
Pelagic trawl 3       1 20 21 24
Pelagic hand lines 157 1         1 158
Pelagic total 160 1     1 20 22 182
Creel fishing 892 76 10 12 1   99 991
Nephrop trawls 51 23 37 119 8   187 238
Scallop dredging 15 4 16 35 14 2 71 86
Shell fishing by hand 32 14         14 46
Other shellfish 11   3 4 1   8 19
Shellfish total 1,001 117 66 170 24 2 379 1,380
Non fishing3 346 13 1 2 5   21 367
Total 1,556 136 69 208 95 24 532 2,088

(1) An active vessel is a fishing vessel that is registered (Register of Shipping and Seamen) and licenced to fish: see the glossary.

(2) Main fishing method is determined by calculating which fishing gear is used to catch the majority of the vessel's landings (by value).

(3) The 'Non fishing' category includes vessels which hold an active licence but did not report any catch in the year stated.

Contact

Email: fisheriesstatistics@gov.scot

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