Shellfish Farm Cultivation in Scotland 2004 · The shellfish aquaculture industry is of significant...
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Fisheries Research Services is an agency of the Scottish Executive FRS Marine Laboratory PO Box 101 375 Victoria Road Aberdeen AB11 9DB UK tel +44 (0)1224 876544 fax +44 (0)1224 295511 [email protected] http://www.frs-scotland.gov.uk Fisheries Research Services Shellfish Farm Cultivation in Scotland 2004 Introduction The culture of shellfish plays an important role in the economy of remote rural communities of the Scottish highlands and islands. The principal species cultured are the common mussel (Mytilus edulis) and the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). Smaller quantities of king scallop (Pecten maximus), queen scallop (Chlamys opercularis) and native oysters (Ostrea edulis) are grown. Manpower Total manpower engaged in shellfish cultivation increased during 2002-2004. The total number employed in 2004 was 402. This increase was largely due to an expansion in mussel cultivation at Shetland. Production Shellfish cultivation first sales value in 2004 was approximately £6 million. One hundred and seventy-five companies operated 309 sites, 152 of which produced for the table market. The remaining 157 held either juvenile stock or were fallow. Over the past three years the number of producing sites and companies has increased. One hundred and ten companies in 2004 produced shellfish for sale. Mussels The common mussel is the most intensively cultivated species of shellfish in Scotland. The main cultivation method is from natural spat* settlement on ropes suspended from long-lines or rafts. '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 420 Distribution of Scottish shellfish production sites, 2004 No. of staff *spawn of shellfish Orkney 13 (2) Western Isles 37 (14) Shetland 94 (45) Active (Producing) Several Orders Strathclyde 99 (54)
Transcript of Shellfish Farm Cultivation in Scotland 2004 · The shellfish aquaculture industry is of significant...
Fisheries Research Services is an agency of the Scottish Executive
FRS Marine Laboratory PO Box 101 375 Victoria Road Aberdeen AB11 9DB UK
tel +44 (0)1224 876544 fax +44 (0)1224 295511
[email protected] http://www.frs-scotland.gov.uk
Fisheries Research Services
Shellfish Farm Cultivation in Scotland 2004
IntroductionThe culture of shellfish plays an important role in the
economy of remote rural communities of the Scottish
highlands and islands. The principal species cultured are
the common mussel (Mytilus edulis) and the Pacific oyster
(Crassostrea gigas). Smaller quantities of king scallop
(Pecten maximus), queen scallop (Chlamys opercularis)
and native oysters (Ostrea edulis) are grown.
ManpowerTotal manpower engaged in shellfish cultivation increased
during 2002-2004. The total number employed in 2004
was 402. This increase was largely due to an expansion
in mussel cultivation at Shetland.
ProductionShellfish cultivation first sales value in 2004 was
approximately £6 million. One hundred and seventy-five
companies operated 309 sites, 152 of which produced
for the table market. The remaining 157 held either juvenile
stock or were fallow.
Over the past three years the number of producing sites
and companies has increased. One hundred and ten
companies in 2004 produced shellfish for sale.
MusselsThe common mussel is the most intensively cultivated
species of shellfish in Scotland. The main cultivation
method is from natural spat* settlement on ropes
suspended from long-lines or rafts.
'95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04260
280
300
320
340
360
380
400
420
Distribution of Scottish shellfish production sites, 2004
No. o
f sta
ff
*spawn of shellfish
Orkney13 (2)
Western Isles37 (14)
Shetland94 (45)
Active
(Producing)
Several Orders
Strathclyde99 (54)
Fisheries Research Services is an agency of the Scottish Executive
FRS Marine Laboratory PO Box 101 375 Victoria Road Aberdeen AB11 9DB UK
tel +44 (0)1224 876544 fax +44 (0)1224 295511
[email protected] http://www.frs-scotland.gov.uk © Crown copyright
Fisheries Research Services
Pacific OysterAlthough the Pacific oyster is farmed in Scottish waters
it is a non-native species and is unable to reproduce due
to prevailing low water temperatures. Growers are
dependent on supplies of spat from hatchery and nursery
beds in England and Guernsey.
The main method of cultivation is in net bags laid on
trestles sited in the inter-tidal zone down to low water
mark. The bags require frequent inspection and turning
to maintain optimum growing conditions and reach
marketable size in three years.
King and Queen Scallops King and queens scallops rely on natural spat settlement
and are on-grown in pearl and lantern nets suspended
from long-lines. With the introduction of Several Order
fisheries there is now an increasing number of scallops
being on-grown on the seabed. Scallops reach market
size in four years and queens in 18 months.
The shellfish aquaculture industry is of significant economic importance to Scotland and in particular to local communities
in many of the more remote areas.
Regional variation
Production of Pacific oyster, king and queen scallop has
focussed on the west coast of the Scottish mainland.
Production for the table (000s) by species and region, 2004
Pacific oyster King scallop Queen scallop
Shetland 2 0 63
Orkney 20 0 0
Western Isles 0 0 0
Highland 736 56 54
Strathclyde 2,828 29 1,001
Regional variation
There is considerable regional variation in mussel
production. Traditionally, production was located in the
south west and Highland regions, however in recent years
the industry has successfully expanded in the Shetland
Islands. In 2004 Shetland’s production accounted for
52% of the Scottish total.
Percentage Scottish mussel production by region, 2004
The attached spats contine to grow on the lines until they
reach marketable size within 24-30 months.
Production (tonnes)
During 1995-2004 mussel production increased almost
five-fold to over 4,000 tonnes. A large proportion of the
Scottish production is exported.
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
Tonn
es
Mussel (tonnes)
'95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '01'00 '02 '03 '04
Trends in production for Pacific oysters, queens, scallops and native oysters
Shetland
Western Isles
Highland
Strathclyde
01,0002,0003,0004,000
'95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '01'00 '02 '03 '04
Native oyster (000s)
Pacific oyster (000s)
Num
ber (
000s
)
Scallop (000s)
Queen (000s)
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