2023 stock assessment results
The scallop catch rate dipped last year after five years of increases. Fishermen are reporting poorer catches but with signs of strong juvenile scallop classes on the way.
Brown crab showed an increase in catch per creel, in contrast to the poor picture elsewhere in Scotland. However, effort was reduced on the previous year and tonnage is well down on the peak of 10 years ago.
Landings and effort in the velvet crab fishery were down on 2022 levels but with a higher catch rate. Better information is needed from fishermen on their logsheets to account for the factor of soak time.
The full stock report for 2023 will be available from late August to licensed fishermen in the members' section of this website.
Stock assessment summaries: