Our Industry in Numbers
Shetland’s seafood industry is worth £386 million a year to the Shetland economy. It surpasses oil, gas, agriculture, tourism, and creative industries combined. More than 1,000 people are directly employed in the sector and around 3,000 more are employed in supporting industries, such as engineering and transport.
- 232 active commercial fishing vessels – virtually all owned by local shareholders
- 534 people are directly employed in fish catching
- 81% of all Scottish mussels are grown in Shetland, valued at £6.3 million
- 241 full-time and 19 part-time employees in salmon farming, and a further 160 in processing jobs
- £69.9 million worth of fish and shellfish was landed in Shetland in 2021
- In 2021 Shetland harvested 40,800 tonnes of salmon, with a gross added value to the economy of £137 million
- More than 17 per cent of all fish landed in Scotland is landed in Shetland
- Shetland is the second ranked port in the UK (Peterhead is first) for landings of whitefish.
Some useful links:
Careers
The seafood industry supports a wide range of careers and it’s not just about life at sea. Many opportunities are available across the sector.