The UK is becoming increasingly reliant on imports. Import volumes have more than doubled from 1991 to 2004.

In 2004 the UK imported 566,000 tonnes of seafood worth £1.24 billion (Note: this figure does not include freshwater fish, fishmeal or fish oils.)

Large processing firms tend to import the majority of their supplies. Imports have traditionally been dominated by shellfish but more recently whitefish have also become very important. Sources of import include:

. • Shellfish – India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Denmark, Canada

. • Whitefish – Faroe, Iceland, Russia, Norway