Our Industry in Numbers
Shetland’s seafood industry is worth £440 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.
- 242 active commercial fishing vessels – virtually all owned by local shareholders
- 585 people are directly employed in fish catching
- 85% of all Scottish mussels are grown in Shetland, valued at £9.7 million
- 270 full-time and 18 part-time employees in salmon farming
- £45 million worth of white fish landed in 2023
- £5.9 million worth of wild shellfish landed in 2023
- In 2024 Shetland harvested 38,000 tonnes of salmon. The total economic impact of salmon farming in Shetland was £174 million.
- More than 18 per cent of all fish and shellfish landed in Scotland is landed in Shetland
- Shetland is the second ranked port in the UK (Peterhead is first) for landings of whitefish.
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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.