Key Statistics Fleet

In 2021 there were 5,783 UK registered fishing vessels. This represents a 10 per cent reduction in the last ten years, however Gross Tonnage (GT) has remained the same at 202 thousand tonnes.

Approximately 20 per cent of the UK fleet is represented by vessels over 10 metres in length, of which 44 per cent are administered in Scotland. There are around 11 thousand fishers working on UK registered vessels. This is a reduction of 1,700 fishers in the last ten years. 

Key Statistics

Fleet

In 2021 there were 5,783 UK registered fishing vessels. This represents a 10 per cent reduction in the last ten years, however Gross Tonnage (GT) has remained the same at 202 thousand tonnes. Approximately 20 per cent of the UK fleet is represented by vessels over 10 metres in length, of which 44 per cent are administered in Scotland. There are around 11 thousand fishers working on UK registered vessels. This is a reduction of 1,700 fishers in the last ten years.

Landings

In 2021, UK vessels landed 652 thousand tonnes of sea fish with a value of £921 million. Compared to 2020, this is an increase of 5 per cent and 11 per cent in quantity and value respectively. This is mainly driven by the UK’s recovery from the covid period and additional quota available to the UK fleet after leaving the EU.

Landings into the UK by foreign vessels in 2021 was 20 thousand tonnes, which compared to 2020 represents a 48 per cent reduction, however landings abroad by UK vessels has increased by 5 per cent to 258 thousand tonnes.

Effort

Since 2003, fishing effort (kW days at sea) by the over 10m fleet has decreased by around 43 per cent. Most of the reduction in effort is driven by a 46 per cent decline in effort in the demersal trawl and seine segment. Fishing effort by the over 10m fleet increased by nearly 5 per cent between 2020 and 2021. This reverses a small decline following the levelling off in effort seen since 2011. Trade The UK is a net importer of fish. The UK’s crude trade gap in 2021 for sea fish is 305 thousand tonnes. This is higher than 2020 where the gap was 250 thousand tonnes. In 2021 the UK imported 655 thousand tonnes of sea fish, with a value of £3.1 billion. It exported 350 thousand tonnes, with a value of £1.6 billion.

Landings In 2021, UK vessels landed 652 thousand tonnes of sea fish with a value of £921 million. Compared to 2020, this is an increase of 5 per cent and 11 per cent in quantity and value respectively. This is mainly driven by the UK’s recovery from the covid period and additional quota available to the UK fleet after leaving the EU. Landings into the UK by foreign vessels in 2021 was 20 thousand tonnes, which compared to 2020 represents a 48 per cent reduction, however landings abroad by UK vessels has increased by 5 per cent to 258 thousand tonnes.

Effort

Since 2003, fishing effort (kW days at sea) by the over 10m fleet has decreased by around 43 per cent. Most of the reduction in effort is driven by a 46 per cent decline in effort in the demersal trawl and seine segment. Fishing effort by the over 10m fleet increased by nearly 5 per cent between 2020 and 2021. This reverses a small decline following the levelling off in effort seen since 2011.

Trade

The UK is a net importer of fish. The UK’s crude trade gap in 2021 for sea fish is 305 thousand tonnes. This is higher than 2020 where the gap was 250 thousand tonnes.

In 2021 the UK imported 655 thousand tonnes of sea fish, with a value of £3.1 billion. It exported 350 thousand tonnes, with a value of £1.6 billion.

UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2021