‘The Kinlochbervie statistics are very good’: Sutheland port records rise in tonnage and value of landings
The value of fish landings at Kinlochbervie harbour increased by 12 per cent in March compared to the same month last year, according to figures published by the Marine Management Organisation.
They show that the Sutherland port saw a rise of £1,283,000 in March 2023 to £1,438,000 in the same month this year. Tonnage also increased over the same period from 615 to 904 - a rise of 47 per cent.
Kinlochbervie was one of only two out of nine Scottish ports/districts to record increases in value that month with the other port being Lerwick which recorded an eight per cent rise.
Commenting on the figures, Inverness-based economist Tony Mackay said: “The Kinlochbervie statistics are very good. The tonnage increase was the biggest in Scotland.
He pointed out that Scotland accounted for 52.6 per cent of the UK value and 69.9 per cent of the tonnage of fish landed.
He said: “Overall there was a big 17 per cent fall in the value of fish landings in Scotland to just under £29 million, compared with March 2023, and a six per cent fall in tonnage to 29,513.
“This is much worse than the UK totals, which were a six per cent decline in value but a two per cent rise in tonnage.
“Seven of the nine Scottish ports/districts recorded falls in value and only two an increase. Seven also recorded falls in tonnage and only two increases. The value increases were in Kinlochbervie (12 per cent) and Lerwick (8 per cent).
“The biggest declines were in Fraserburgh (52 per cent), Ullapool (49 per cent) and Scrabster (40 per cent). The tonnage increases were in Kinlochbervie (47 per cent) and Peterhead (2 per cent).
“The value per tonne of fish landed fell by 13 per cent to £975 from £1121 a year ago.”
Mr Mackay added: “Peterhead is by far the busiest fishing port in the UK, accounting for a massive 37 per cent of the total Scottish value and 19 per cent of the total UK value in January.
“The tonnage shares were 75 per cent of the Scottish total and 52 per cent of the UK. However, there was a six per cent fall in the March value.
“Ullapool overtook Lerwick as the second highest value port, although the latter had the second largest tonnage. Kinlochbervie overtook Scrabster as the fourth highest value port.”
A natural harbour, Kinlochbervie is within easy steaming distance of the fishing grounds of the north and west coast of Scotland. Fish is sold through the port’s auction market by the Kinlochbervie Fish Selling Comany.
