Scottish mussel production hit new record last year
But the number of Pacific oysters harvested fell by 38%
Scottish shellfish farmers harvested a record high volume of 11,690 tonnes of common mussels (Mytilus spp) for the table last year, according to the newly published Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2024.
The number of common mussel-producing sites with sufficient spat settlement for production purposes increased by 80% from 54 to 97.
But there was a 38% decrease in the number of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) produced for the table. This fell to 2.4 million shells, with a main producer in the Highland region ceasing production in 2024.
King scallop (Pecten maximus) production decreased by 4%, from 24,000 to 23,000 shells, and there was a 53% increase in the production of native oysters (Ostrea edulis) from 111,000 to 170,000 shells.
Employment levels decreased by 2% from the previous year, with 241 full-time, part-time and casual staff being employed during 2024.
The Scottish shellfish farming sector was estimated to be worth approximately £14 million at first sale value last year, a decrease of 1% compared to 2023.
The number of authorised and active shellfish farming businesses in 2024 was 100, down from 144 in 2015.
In 2024,178 sites produced shellfish for sale, an increase of 5% from 2023 (169), with 60% of these sites located in Shetland.
