Table production of Pacific oyster shells decreased by 33% last year. Photo: Martin Shields.

Scottish shellfish production fell last year

Scotland’s table production tonnage of mussels decreased by 15% from 6,699 tonnes in 2019 to 5,661 tonnes last year, figures from the newly published Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2020 show.

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Table production of Pacific oyster shells decreased by 33% from the 2019 total. Additionally, more than 1.6 million shells were produced for on-growing in other waters, according to the survey by Marine Scotland Science.

Employment increased by 8% from 2019, with 300 full, part-time and casual staff employed in 2020.

Overall estimated first sale value of the industry was calculated to be approximately £6.1 million in 2020, a 23% decrease on the 2019 figure. Many businesses reported lost trade while the hospitality sector was in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The full report can be downloaded here.