Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025

Production

The shellfish species cultivated in Scottish waters in 2025 are shown in table 1.

In 2025, production was dominated by common mussel and Pacific oyster, although small quantities of king scallop and native oyster were also produced. The 2025 production data for each species by region are given in tables 2 and 3. There were other shellfish produced during 2025 but these were not reported due to the low levels and low number of producers.

Values are shown in tonnes for common mussel, and thousands of shells for Pacific oyster, native oyster and king scallop.

Note: Table = sales directly for human consumption. Individual values have been rounded to whole numbers of tonnes for common mussel, and to thousands of shells for other species. ‘All Scotland’ values are summed regional values. Conversion to weight used the following assumptions (based on sector figures): individual oysters averaged 80g; individual scallops averaged 120g.

Data Source: Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025, Supplementary Tables, Table 1

Values are shown in tonnes for common mussel and thousands of shells for Pacific oyster, native oyster and king scallop.

Note: On-growing = sales to other businesses for on-growing. Individual values have been rounded to whole numbers of tonnes for common mussel, and to thousands of shells for other species. ‘All Scotland’ values are summed regional values.

Data Source: Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025, Supplementary Tables, Table 1

Trends in common mussel production for table and on-growing in Scotland are shown in chart 1, whilst trends in Pacific oyster production for table and on-growing in Scotland are shown in chart 2.

Common mussel production in tonnes.

Table production is shown by the upper green dashed line, and on‑growing production by the lower dark grey solid line. Production is measured in tonnes.

Data Source: Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025, Supplementary Tables, Table 2

Pacific oyster production in thousands of shells.

Table production is shown by the upper green dashed line, and on‑growing production by the lower dark grey solid line. Production is measured in thousands of shells. The data for this figure are shown in the supplementary data.

Data Source: Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025, Supplementary Tables, Table 2

Trends for table production for native oyster and king scallop are illustrated in chart 3. Trends in on-growing production for native oyster and king scallop are illustrated in chart 4.

Number of other species production in thousands of shells.

The upper red dashed line shows native oyster production for table use, and the lower solid purple line shows king scallop production for table use. Production is measured in thousands of shells. The data for this figure are shown in the supplementary data.

Data Source: Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025, Supplementary Tables, Table 2

Number of other species production in thousands of shells.

The upper red dashed line shows native oyster production for on‑growing, and the lower solid purple line shows king scallop production for on‑growing. Production is measured in thousands of shells. The data for this figure are shown in the supplementary data.

Data Source: Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025, Supplementary Tables, Table 2

Common mussel production, for the table, increased by 5% in 2025 (see chart 1) from 11,690 to 12,303 tonnes. This is the highest level of mussel production recorded in Scotland. The greatest regional contribution to mussel production was from Shetland, accounting for 10,461 tonnes (85%) of Scotland’s total. Pacific oyster production for the table increased by 5% from 2024 (from 2,418,000 to 2,538,000 shells). Table production of native oysters decreased by 7% while table production of king scallops increased by 4%. Historical data for all shellfish species show that production levels vary year on year. This can be due to a number of different factors such as poor spat fall, algal toxins, poor growth, adverse weather and fluctuations in market prices.

Prices of farmed shellfish fluctuated throughout the year. Their value at first sale was estimated from the following figures obtained from the shellfish farming sector. These vary with demand, level of production and geographical area of origin. The average price of Pacific oyster was £0.59 per shell; native oyster, £0.78 per shell; king scallop, £2.71 per shell; and common mussel £1,088 per tonne. The value of the table trade is estimated from the production figures shown in Table 2 and 3.

Pacific oyster: £1.5 million

Native oyster: £0.1 million

King scallop: £0.07 million

Common mussel: £13.4 million

In 2025, the total value at first sale for all species was calculated at approximately £15.1 million, an increase of 8% from the £14.0 million estimated value in 2024.