Volume and wholesale value of fish landings down in fourth quarter 2012

During the fourth quarter of 2012, the volume and wholesale value of fish landings declined by 22.2 and 7.6 per cent respectively over the corresponding period in 2011.

A total of 123,921 kilograms (-22.2 per cent) of fresh fish were reportedly landed at the local fish market during the last quarter of 2012. There were significant declines in the main species landed, primarily Swordfish (-54.8 per cent) and Dorado (-17.2 per cent).

On the other hand, increases of 69.1 and 34.7 per cent in Blue Fin Tuna and Stone Bass landings were registered. However, these species accounted for only 0.3 per cent of all landings in the quarter under review. The wholesale value of fresh fish landed fell by 7.6 per cent from €0.9 million in the fourth quarter 2011 to €0.8 million in the fourth quarter last year.

Regional overview

Maltese fishermen landed 88,251 kilograms of fresh fish, a drop of 18.4 per cent over the last quarter of 2011. This made up 71.2 per cent of the total landings during the fourth quarter of 2012. Swordfish and Shrimp landings decreased by 53.8 and 39.5 per cent respectively.

The wholesale value of fresh fish landings by Maltese fishermen amounted to €590,085, down by 2.9 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2011.

Gozitan fish landings amounted to 35,670 kilograms during the fourth quarter, a decline of 30.1 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 2011. This was mainly due to a drop of 26.1 per cent in Dorado landings, which made up 81.5 per cent of all Gozitan landings in the period under review. In volume terms, Gozitan fish landings comprised 28.8 per cent of total landings. These landings generated €227,414 in wholesale value, resulting in a decline of 17.8 per cent over the fourth quarter of 2011.