Shellfish

Scotland’s shellfish farming sector is a long‑established and high-quality part of aquaculture, producing mainly mussels and oysters in clean, nutrient-rich coastal waters. In 2024, the sector was valued at approximately £14 million.

Rope-grown mussels typically take around three years to reach harvest size. In 2024, Scotland harvested almost 12,000 tonnes of mussels, the highest level ever recorded, with over 80% coming from Shetland. Oyster farming also contributes significantly to the shellfish sector, particularly through the production of Pacific oysters, while native oysters represent a smaller, but increasingly valuable, market.

Mussels and oysters are oysters are among the most sustainable sources of protein available and prized for their sustainability: they require no feed while naturally improving water quality and supporting marine biodiversity. Their uses span the fresh seafood markets, value‑added products, and premium hospitality, positioning Scottish shellfish as a high‑quality, low‑carbon food source with strong growth potential.

Find out more about Scotland’s shellfish sector

The mussel and oyster sector benefits from being highly sustainable and requiring no external feed inputs, yet it still operates within a naturally variable marine environment. Water temperature, coastal conditions, and overall water quality all play a major role in determining performance, particularly as shellfish are directly influenced by changes in their growing waters. Ensuring consistently clean, high‑quality sites remains central to maintaining product standards and safeguarding stock.

Growth opportunities also depend on the availability of suitable sites, navigating regulatory frameworks, and having the operational capacity to expand responsibly. These considerations shape how producers plan for the future and identify areas where innovation can add value.

Shell‑volution – an initiative to support advancement and growth in mussel farming – highlights several interconnected areas where further knowledge and development would be beneficial. These include improving understanding of spat supply, enhancing production methods and infrastructure, strengthening product quality, refining environmental modelling, and sharing best practice to build economic resilience. Together, these factors point toward the potential for continued innovation to support a vibrant, sustainable mussel sector in Scotland.

Find out more about challenges in mussel farming

How SAIC can help

SAIC supports innovation in Scotland’s shellfish sector by bringing producers together with academic experts to collaborate on the sector’s most pressing challenges – from spat availability to environmental variability. By connecting science with the needs of the sector, we help develop solutions that improve resilience and productivity. We play a key role in sharing insights and new knowledge across the sector, ensuring that research findings, best practice and emerging technologies are accessible to everyone.

In addition, SAIC helps attract UK and EU funding into Scottish aquaculture, enabling larger research projects, technology trials and environmental monitoring initiatives than individual organisations could not undertake alone. Together, these activities strengthen the sector’s ability to adapt, innovate and grow sustainably.

Find out more about projects we have supported