Increased Whitefish Landings At Peterhead
2nd June 2015
Whitefish activity increased significantly in the first four months of this year at Peterhead, with the catch value and tonnage rising by 11% and 17% respectively, reports David Linkie.
19,143t of whitefish with a value of £28.3m were landed at Peterhead from January until the end of April, compared to 16,402t and £25.5m for the comparable period in 2014.
Whitefish catches were spread fairly evenly over the first three months, with 4,321t for £7.1m in January, 4,489t/£6.6m in February, 4,993/£7m in March, rising to 5,340t/£7.7m in April. This breakdown reflects the higher market prices that prevailed at the start of this year, when the average monthly price per tonne of whitefish on Peterhead market was £1,632, before falling to £1,403 in March and increasing to £1,442 last month.
The overall catch value at Peterhead for the opening four months of this year totalled £47.5m from 56,887t. The corresponding figures for 2014 were £64.8m and 66,266t, equating to respective decreases of 27% and 14% in terms of total catch value and tonnage.
This overall drop is largely due to a significant reduction in pelagic activity, which in turn is a result of some of the worst weather experienced in recent winters and the temporary loss of the Northbay Pelagic processing factory following a devastating fire.
24,761t of mackerel valued at £15.5m were pumped ashore at Peterhead in January and February, compared to 38,855t and £35.7m during the same period last year.
Whitefish activity increased significantly in the first four months of this year at Peterhead, with the catch value and tonnage rising by 11% and 17% respectively, reports David Linkie. 19,143t of whitefish with a value of £28.3m were landed at Peterhead from January until the end of April, compared to 16,402t and £25.5m for the comparable period in 2014. Whitefish catches were spread fairly evenly over the first three months, with 4,321t for £7.1m in January, 4,489t/£6.6m in February, 4,993/£7m in March, rising to 5,340t/£7.7m in April. This breakdown reflects the higher market prices that prevailed at the start of this year, when the average monthly price per tonne of whitefish on Peterhead market was £1,632, before falling to £1,403 in March and increasing to £1,442 last month. The overall catch value at Peterhead for the opening four months of this year totalled £47.5m from 56,887t. The corresponding figures for 2014 were £64.8m and 66,266t, equating to respective decreases of 27% and 14% in terms of total catch value and tonnage. This overall drop is largely due to a significant reduction in pelagic activity, which in turn is a result of some of the worst weather experienced in recent winters and the temporary loss of the Northbay Pelagic processing factory following a devastating fire. 24,761t of mackerel valued at £15.5m were pumped ashore at Peterhead in January and February, compared to 38,855t and £35.7m during the same period last year.
