Shell fisheries in Scotland: A case of transition from low to high value

Shell fishing in Scotland has always had an importance for providing a diet component at the coast. Elements of commercial importance can be seen from at least the 17th century, and there was some expansion with improving market links during the Industrial Revolution; but commercial importance was restricted before the major expansion of the last 40 years. The great growth dates from around 1960, with nephrops (for scampi) and scallops becoming the main species fished to cater for an expanding and diversifying market for high‐value sea food. It has also been essentially linked to the development of processing and rapid transport to a market which is mainly for export. While the tendency towards over fishing has been relatively limited for shell fish, increasing measures have been required for resource conservation.