What is fish discards in United Kingdom?

Fish discards in United Kingdom was 31,079 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest fish discards recorded in United Kingdom?

The highest recorded value was 248,693 in 1967.

What is the lowest fish discards recorded in United Kingdom?

The lowest recorded value was 25,927 in 1950.

How does United Kingdom rank for fish discards?

United Kingdom ranks 35th out of 161 countries with data for 2018.

Is fish discards rising or falling in United Kingdom?

Over the last ten years it is down 39.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this United Kingdom data come from?

The figures come from Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fish discards. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Fish discards in United Kingdom

Name: Fish discards in United Kingdom
Creator: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

United Kingdom: Fish discards was 31,079 in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)

31,079

Change on year

down 30.0%

World rank

35th

of 161 countries

All-time high

248,693

in 1967

All-time low

25,927

in 1950

Years of data

1950–2018

Fish discards in United Kingdom, 1950–2018

Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2018, fish discards in United Kingdom stood at 31,079.

That represents a change of down 30.0% on the previous year and down 39.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, fish discards in United Kingdom peaked at 248,693 in 1967 and was at its lowest, 25,927, in 1950.

That places United Kingdom 35th out of 161 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1950s	97,154	25,927	233,876	10
1960s	159,521	61,560	248,693	10
1970s	74,658	59,453	92,077	10
1980s	111,962	101,472	128,335	10
1990s	95,787	78,852	107,272	10
2000s	55,966	42,368	69,349	10
2010s	42,492	31,079	52,468	9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

32 Turkey 34,619 compare
33 Italy 31,443 compare
34 Algeria 31,258 compare
36 Iran 29,394 compare
37 Iceland 28,914 compare
38 Greenland 27,320 compare

See the full ranking of 161 places →

More agriculture & rural data for United Kingdom

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 25.62 billion current US$ (2025)
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 0.6% (2025)
Rural population 11.59 million (2025)
Rural population growth -0.2% (2025)
Rural population 16.7% (2025)
Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2025)
Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2025)
Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.6% (2025)
Share of GDP from agriculture 0.6% (2025)
Land under cereal production 3.09 million hectares (2023)

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is fish discards in United Kingdom?: Fish discards in United Kingdom was 31,079 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest fish discards recorded in United Kingdom?: The highest recorded value was 248,693 in 1967.
What is the lowest fish discards recorded in United Kingdom?: The lowest recorded value was 25,927 in 1950.
How does United Kingdom rank for fish discards?: United Kingdom ranks 35th out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
Is fish discards rising or falling in United Kingdom?: Over the last ten years it is down 39.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?: The figures come from Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fish discards. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 69 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Fish discards
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 161 places, 9,371 data points, 1950–2018
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Discards are animals thrown back (alive or dead) into the sea after being caught during fishing activities. This represents bycatch (fish caught unintentionally) that is not brought ashore for use.