The UK has a rich variety of shellfish around its shores, including species such as crabs, lobsters, scallops, oysters and mussels but also other less widely known species such as cockles, clams, cuttlefish and whelk. Shellfish are an important natural resource with the potential to provide a sustainable and nutritious source of food and wealth.

Shellfish are both caught and cultivated in the UK and are of great importance to our fishing industry.  Shellfish contributed nearly 50% of the total value of seafood landed by UK vessels into the UK in 2009, worth an estimated £250 million. Shellfish are both caught and cultivated in the UK and are of great importance to our fishing industry.

Shellfish contributed nearly 50% of the total value of seafood landed by UK vessels into the UK in 2009, worth an estimated £250 million. In England shellfish account for over 50% of total landings.

Shellfish aquaculture contributed an additional £33 million, from nearly 39,000 tonnes in 2008 (these figures do not include production from Several and Regulating Orders in England, which produced a further £20 million of shellfish on 2008).

Defra’s policy work on shellfish aims to help ensure a long-term sustainable and economically viable future for the shellfish industry.

Current Work

• We are currently seeking views on proposals for a new Scallop Order
• We are encouraging applications for Shellfish Orders

You can find out more about:

• Scallops

Contact

You can email us at shellfish@defra.gsi.gov.uk or write to us at:

• Shellfish Policy Team, Defra, Area 2C Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London.  SW1P 3JR