Pictured: Catch unloaded at Peterhead Harbour, Scotland, UK.
Photo: Seafish.
UK seafood trade organization Seafish has released the latest ediction of its industry insights report "Seafood in Numbers", the only annual report which provides UK-wide seafood data covering the entire supply chain.
The latest report, which covers data from 2023, reveals trends on seafood consumption, trade, processing, and fishing.
"Seafood in Numbers 2023 serves as a one-stop resource for anyone seeking a clear view of the UK seafood sector," said Jennifer Robson, Head of Economics, Insight, and Advice at Seafish, in a press release.
"This report compiles key figures at a glance, offering valuable insights into the industry. We’re grateful to the industry stakeholders who generously contributed data through our annual surveys, helping us in our mission to be the centre for seafood supply chain analysis and insight," Robson stated.
The report is availabe on the Seafish website in an interactive format, allowing users to navigate and explore data across all levels and sectors of the supply chain, the organization said.
According to the report, the UK's fishing fleet caught 680,000 tonnes of seafood in 2023, with mackerel remaining the top species landed in the UK, with landings growing by 20%.
Regarding seafood trade, the UK exported £1,730 million worth of seafood, with the value of exports increasing by £8 million compared with the previous year. France was the largest market by both volume and value.
Meanwhile, UK retail seafood sales grew to £4.3 billion, up 5% compared with the previous year, and "driven primarily by chilled and frozen seafood categories", Seafish said.
Accompanying the launch of this year’s report, Seafish is hosting a free webinar on January 16, 2025, which it says "will provide a deeper dive into the findings, valuable for new entrants to the industry and seasoned professionals alike".
The webinar will feature members of Seafish's Economics, Insight and Advice team presenting key findings of the report, as well as discussing the practical implications of the data for businesses and other industry stakeholders, and offer a “behind the scenes” look at the process of data collection.
