Fish landings in the fourth quarter last year amounted to 230,429 kilograms, up by 85.9 per cent over the comparative period in 2012. This was due to increases in the main species landed, primarily Swordfish (+252.1 per cent) and Dorado (+88.2 per cent).
Similarly, the wholesale value of fresh fish landed went up by 50.5 per cent from €0.8 million in the
fourth quarter 2012 to €1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Regional overview
Maltese fishermen landed 142,501 kilograms of fresh fish, an increase of 61.5 per cent over the last quarter of 2012. This made up 61.8 per cent of the total landings. Swordfish and Dorado, the main species landed advanced by 225.7 and 35.9 per cent respectively.
The wholesale value of fresh fish landings by Maltese fishermen amounted to €847,276, up by 43.6 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2012.
Gozitan fish landings amounted to 87,928 kilograms during the fourth quarter, an increase of 146.5 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 2012. This was mainly due to higher Swordfish and Dorado landings, of 558.4 and 151.0 per cent respectively.
In volume terms, Gozitan fish landings comprised 38.2 per cent of total landings. These landings generated €383,047, an increase of 68.4 per cent over the fourth quarter of 2012.
The quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fish price index for the fourth quarter stood at 98.66 points, a decrease of 22.04 points (-18.3 per cent) over the comparative period in 2012. The increase in the supply of fresh fish was reflected in the quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fish volume index, which stood at 70.72 points, up by 85.9 per cent in the fourth quarter last year.
