Kinlochbervie Harbour in Sutherland emerged as a bright spot in January 2026, as Scotland’s fishing industry faced its worst month in years. New data from the Marine Management Organisation revealed a 44 per cent drop in the total value of fish landed across Scotland compared to January 2025, with the total value falling to £58.5 million. Tonnage also fell by 40 per cent, dropping to 35,218 tonnes, a contraction that outpaced the decline seen across the UK as a whole.

Contrasting Performance at Key Ports

The downturn was most pronounced at Peterhead and Lerwick, Scotland’s two largest fishing ports. Peterhead, the UK’s busiest fishing port, saw its value of landings plummet by 52 per cent to £31 million. Lerwick also experienced a sharp decline, with a 46 per cent drop in its landings. These figures underscored the broader challenges facing the Scottish fishing sector, with both ports contributing heavily to the national total.

In contrast, Kinlochbervie recorded a 26 per cent increase in the value of its landings, reaching just under £2 million in January. Tonnage rose even more sharply, climbing 51 per cent to 750 tonnes. This performance placed Kinlochbervie third in Scotland by value of landings for the month, despite the national downturn.

A Turnaround After a Difficult Year

The strong January figures followed a similarly strong December performance, where the value of landings at Kinlochbervie rose by 18 per cent year on year to around £1.7 million. Tonnage also saw a 45 per cent increase, marking the largest percentage tonnage rise among Scottish ports for that month. This late-year rebound came after a challenging 2025 for the harbour.

For the full year of 2025, Kinlochbervie’s total landings by value were down 11.5 per cent compared to 2024, leaving it ranked seventh among Scotland’s main fishing ports. The port accounted for 2.7 per cent of the national total, highlighting the difficulties faced during the year.

The year was marked by significant month-to-month fluctuations, with August 2025 recording the lowest landing figures in Scotland. Both value and tonnage fell heavily during that month, and there were reports that some vessels were favoring landings at Ullapool instead of Kinlochbervie.

January’s figures, therefore, signal a notable shift in momentum for the Sutherland port. While Ullapool recorded a larger percentage rise in tonnage, Kinlochbervie was among just five of Scotland’s nine ports and districts to report an increase in value. Nationally, the average value per tonne in Scotland fell by eight per cent to £1,660, illustrating the challenging trading conditions across the industry.

Local Optimism Amid National Struggles

Despite the overall decline in Scotland’s fishing industry, Kinlochbervie’s performance has sparked optimism in the local community. The port’s back-to-back winter increases have been viewed as a positive start to the new year and a sign that the area may be regaining ground at a time when much of the country’s fishing industry is struggling.

Scotland accounted for 72 per cent of the total UK value of fish landed in January 2026, but the sharp decline in overall landings made Kinlochbervie’s rise to third place nationally all the more striking. With the industry facing ongoing challenges, the Sutherland port’s performance could serve as a model for other regions seeking to stabilize their fishing sectors.

Industry analysts are closely watching Kinlochbervie’s trajectory, as its success could indicate a broader recovery in certain regions of Scotland. However, the sector as a whole remains under pressure, with many ports continuing to face difficult conditions. As the year progresses, the performance of Kinlochbervie and other regional hubs will be key indicators of the industry’s long-term outlook.