13 March 2020

A recently published report from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has revealed that, for another year running, Shoreham Port landed the majority of scallops in the UK during 2019. 

Released each year since 2014, the MMO report summarises fishing activity for UK commercial fishing vessels landing into the UK and abroad. The report stated that in 2019, 6,169 tonnes of scallops were landed by UK fishing vessels at Shoreham Port. In fact, the Port has seen an influx of scallop landings in the last five years, with catches increasing year on year, increasing from 1,978 tonnes in 2016 to 6,169 tonnes in 2019; a percentage difference of approximately 211%.

 The most successful month of scallop landings at Shoreham was in October, during which the Port successfully enabled the landing of 1,382 tonnes of scallops by UK registered vessels, followed by the 1,043 tonnes of scallops landed in November. The Port also facilitated the landing of other shellfish such as 439 tonnes of Whelks.

 The Port has many facilities to offer fishing boats, including a dry dock, secure moorings within the canal, and convenient, easy access for their transportation. It is also a particularly desirable Port for landing scallops due to its close proximity to fishing areas. The Port is also known for their commitment to safety as supporters of the Port Skills & Safety Sector Plan. The Port has a long fishing history, with fishing vessels registered to the Port dating back to the 13th Century.

 David, Skipper of the fishing vessel Cordelia K commented “Being close to the eastern channels, Shoreham Port is an excellent location to land scallops. Shoreham Port also have good, safe mooring facilities, particularly in the difficult weather conditions that we face.”

 Mark Hayes, Marine Operations Manager commented “We are thrilled to once again be named as the UK’s favoured Port for scallop landings and to have increased the amount of landings we have been able to facilitate to over 6,000 tonnes in 2019.”

 Mark continued “The fishing industry, particularly the scalloping industry, benefits our local economy directly through both fish and fuel sales. We are delighted that the industry continues to thrive and look forward to continuing our valued relationship with fishermen that land their catches with us at Shoreham Port, and to continue welcoming fishing vessels in the coming years.”

Category: Maritime