MaltaMedia.com

The volume and wholesale value of fresh fish landings dropped by 9.9 and 7.5 per cent respectively in the second quarter this year when compared to the corresponding period in 2009, the NSO reported on Wednesday.

Fish landings in the second quarter of 2010 amounted to 331,243 kilograms, a decrease of 9.9 per cent over the second quarter of 2009. This was due to a decrease in landings of most major species. Indeed, Blue Fin Tuna, the dominant species landed, registered a drop of 32.3 per cent.

Similarly, the wholesale value of fresh fish landings declined by 7.5 per cent to €2,138,825. A drop of 16.5 per cent was registered in the wholesale price per kilogram for Blue Fin Tuna.

Maltese fishermen landed 285,061 kilograms of fresh fish during the period under review, an increase of 6.8 per cent over 2009. Fish landings by Maltese fishermen represented 86.1 per cent of total landings. Swordfish landings advanced by 85.5 per cent while a drop of 22.8 per cent was registered for Blue Fin Tuna. The wholesale value of fish landings by Maltese fishermen rose by 1.5 per cent to €1,926,972 over the second quarter last year.

Gozitan fishermen landed 43,004 kilograms (-53.9 per cent) of fresh fish during the period under review, making up 13.0 per cent of total landings. Swordfish landings advanced by 54.3 per cent. Landings of most of the other major species registered a decline. The wholesale value for fish landings during the second quarter amounted to €187,317, down by 49.4 per cent over the comparative period of 2009.

Foreign-flagged vessels landed 3,178 kilograms of fresh fish during the second quarter, a drop of 57.9 per cent. Landings by foreign-flagged vessels made up just 1.0 per cent of the total catch. Their wholesale value amounted to €24,536, registering a decline of 42.9 per cent.

The quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fish price index for the second quarter this year stood at 143.29 points, up by 3.84 points (+2.8 per cent) over the comparative period in 2009. The quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fish volume index stood at 99.11 points, reflecting a drop of 10.92 points, or 9.9 per cent.