Malta Fish Landings Increase by 5.1 Per Cent

Blue Fin Tuna, the main species caught in the period under review, advanced by 51 per cent, while Mackerel and Swordfish dropped by 26.3 per cent and 42.6 per cent respectively. The wholesale value of fish landings went up by 22.7 per cent to 2.65 million, reports MaltaToday.

In the period under review, fish landings by Maltese fishermen amounted to 259,982 kilograms, a decrease of 1.1 per cent over the second quarter of 2011. This comprised 61.3 per cent of total fish landings.

An increase in the landings of Stone-bass ( 120 per cent), Dog-fish ( 86.3 per cent) and Blue Fin Tuna ( 55.1 per cent) were offset by drops of 79.5 per cent and 50.9 per cent in Bogue and Swordfish landings respectively.

The wholesale value of fresh fish landings by Maltese fishermen stood at 2.28 million, resulting in an increase of 17.5 per cent over the corresponding quarter last year.

This was mainly due to a rise in the average price per kilogram of Blue Fin Tuna, from 7.8 per kilogram in the second quarter of 2011 to 10.9 per kilogram this year.

Fresh fish landings by Gozitan fishermen rose by 16.7 per cent over the comparative period last year, accounting for 38.7 per cent of total landings. Significant increases were registered in Bogue (457.9 per cent), Swordfish ( 302.6 per cent) and Dog-Fish ( 148.5 per cent).

Mackerel, the main species caught for Gozitan fishermen, dipped by 27.6 per cent. The wholesale value of fresh fish landings amounted to 0.36 million, an increase of 70.9 per cent over the second quarter of 2011, mainly due to the increase in Swordfish landings.