The volume and wholesale value of fresh fish landings increased by 42.7 and 11.8 per cent respectively in the second quarter of 2009 over the comparative period in 2008.

Fish landings in the second quarter of 2009 amounted to 367,752 kilograms, an increase of 42.7 per cent over the comparative period last year, attributable to a rise in landings of most of the major species, with the exception of Stone Bass which declined by 23.8 per cent. Blue Fin Tuna, the dominant species landed during the period, went up by 30.4 per cent over the second quarter of 2008. Similarly, the wholesale value of fresh fish landings increased by 11.8 per cent, or €244,759, to €2,312,407. Whereas the wholesale value of Swordfish rose by 18.3 per cent on account of a higher catch, the average price per kilogram declined by 1.5 per cent. The wholesale value of landed Tuna rose marginally by 2.9 per cent as increases in Tuna landings were mitigated by a decline of 21.1 per cent in the wholesale price per kilogram.

Regional overview

The period under review saw Maltese fishermen landing 266,957 kilograms of fresh fish, an increase of 18.2 per cent over the comparative period in 2008. The second quarter was characterised by a 12.4 and 18.2 per cent increase in Blue Fin Tuna and Swordfish landings respectively. These two species made up 74.2 per cent of the total landings by Maltese fishermen. Fish landings by Maltese fishermen represented 72.6 per cent of the total landings, down by 15.0 percentage points over the second quarter of 2008. The wholesale value of fish landings by Maltese fishermen increased by €35,486 (+1.9 per cent) when compared to the second quarter of 2008. During this period, the average price per kilogram of Shrimp and Blue Fin Tuna declined by 17.0 and 21.5 per cent respectively, while Swordfish prices on average remained unchanged.

Fresh fish landings by Gozitan fishermen increased by 267.1 per cent to 93,244 kilograms in the second quarter of 2009, mainly due to the 490.8 per cent rise in Blue Fin Tuna landings. As a result of the marked increase in Gozitan fishermen’s landings, the percentage share of the latter with respect to total landings rose to 25.4 per cent. The spike in the volume of fresh fish landings was also reflected in the increase in the wholesale value generated by these fishermen. Indeed, the wholesale value of landings by Gozitan fishermen amounted to €370,360 and represented a 109.6 per cent increase when compared to the second quarter of 2008.

Foreign vessel landings

Fresh fish landings by foreign-flagged vessels registered an increase in volume of 16.4 per cent to 7,551 kilograms in the second quarter of 2009. Fish landings by foreign-flagged vessels represented 2.1 per cent of the total catch. Their wholesale value increased by 56.9 per cent, from €27,362 in the second quarter of 2008 to €42,940 in the corresponding period this year.

Indices

The quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fish price index for the second quarter of 2009 stood at 139.45 points, down by 33.55 points (-19.4 per cent) over the comparative period in 2008, on account of an increase in the supply of fresh fish on the market. This increase was reflected in the quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fish volume index, which stood at 110.03 points, corresponding to a 32.93 point gain or 42.7 per cent increase over the corresponding period in 2008.

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