The UK, Norway and the European Union on December 2, 2024 reviewed the 2024-25 fishing quotas in the North Sea with cuts affecting the Scotland cod fisheries.

This marks the second back-to-back reduction of cod allocations since the reinstatement of post-Brexit joint fishing rights.

According to the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries of Norway, the total allowable catches (TAC) of North Sea cod will be 25,028 tonnes. The tonnage represents a -20% decrease from the 2023-24 allocations.

The three-region total includes that of the west Scotland cod, which in foregoing seasons has consistently enjoyed separate allocations.

Also witnessing a reduction is haddock by -5.5%, itself continuing a 2023-24 decrement  by –14.5% for Irish Sea catches. 

Herring, too, lost its TAC for the 2024-25 fishing year by -23.9%. Saithe and whiting, however, enjoy a reprieve, with their allowable catches up by 7% and 46%, respectively. 

Take by Scotland

Several quarters have voiced their disappointment concerning cod, citing the discrepancy between scientific findings and the health of the stocks.

Daniel Lawson, the executive at the Shetland Fishermen’s Association, said that the cod slash underscores confusion about genetic sub-stocks. This according to a Shetland News story.

Cod (Gadus morhua) remains among the most valuable fish that the Scottish fleet nets each year, with prices varying widely.

A landing price assessment of December 2, 2024 reveals that cod cost from £1.71 to 5.43 ($2.17-6.89) per kg. The price was the highest apart from that of turbot, ling, sole, halibut and monkfish. 

Following the 20% reduction, the price of the white fish at the popular Peterhead auction soared in diverse weight categories. 

According to the journal Nature in a 2021 finding, North Sea cod could take a decade to recover to sufficient stocks. This is an outcome of over-exploitation in the past two decades and warming temperatures. 

Thus, 2025’s fisheries have started on a lukewarm note for especially cod fishermen in Scotland following the TAC reduction. But as the following data reveals, quotas or not, the fish has always meant much to the Scottish aquaculture economy.

Scotland Cod Statistics

Cod is the fifth most important commercial fish in Scotland by economic value only behind mackerel, herring, haddock and monkfish. According to governmental data, the cod stock unlike that of other fish groups was downward in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Then, fishing activities happened even when stocks were below 54%. 

In terms of production, cod has the lowest landings of any given year among the main commercial fish of Scotland. In 2020, for instance, the fish brought 8,415 tonnes, a reduction of 44%, year-on-year. Comparatively, the total mackerel catches topped 2021’s landings at 170,244 tonnes followed by herring at 48,759 tonnes and haddock at 23,443 tonnes.

How valuable is cod fishing in Scotland? 

According to data by the government of Scotland, cod had the fifth highest economic value in 2020 at £24,087 ($30,573). This compares well with the net value of mackerel of £180,893 ($229,589). 

Where do commercial fish including cod come from in Scotland? 

The North Sea provides at least 65% of all fish landings near the sea (demersal) while 14% come from the West Scotland coast. For open sea (pelagic) catches, the North Sea accounts for 55% of landings while West Scotland sea represents 30%.