In the second quarter of 2008, the volume and wholesale value of fish landings rose by 2.9 and 16.1 per cent respectively over the corresponding period last year.

A total of 257,669 kilograms (+2.9 per cent) of fresh fish were landed at the local fish market during the second quarter of 2008. The increase in the volume of fresh fish landed resulted mainly from more Blue Fin Tuna landings (+13.5 per cent) over the comparative period last year. This was partially offset by a decline in the volume of Swordfish landed of 24.2 per cent.

The wholesale value of fresh fish landed rose by 16.1 per cent or €286,013, from €1,781,635 in the second quarter of 2007 to €2,067,648 in the second quarter this year. This rise was mainly attributed to increases in the price and volume of Blue Fin Tuna landings.

Regional overview

In the period under review, Maltese fishermen landed 225,781 kilograms of fresh fish, up by 2.0 per cent over the comparative period last year. Blue Fin Tuna, which accounted for 58.1 per cent of all landings by Maltese fishermen, rose by 14.6 per cent to 131,153 kilograms in the second quarter this year. Swordfish, on the other hand, decreased by 19.7 per cent to 42,879 kilograms. Overall, Maltese fishermen landed 87.6 per cent of total landings, slightly less than last year. The wholesale value of fresh fish landed increased by 17.5 per cent to €1,863,621 in the second quarter of 2008, mainly on account of better prices fetched at the local fish market.

On the other hand, Gozitan fishermen landed 25,402 kilograms of fresh fish during the second quarter of 2008, down by 4.0 per cent over the corresponding period last year, the fall being mainly attributed to lower Swordfish landings. These landings yielded a total wholesale value of €176,665 (+0.5 per cent) when compared to the same period last year on account of increased Stone Bass landings and also due to better prices fetched for Blue Fin Tuna. Overall, Gozitan fisherman landed 9.9 per cent of all fresh fish.

Foreign vessel landings

During the second quarter of 2008, foreign-flagged vessels landed a total of 6,486 kilograms (+134.5 per cent) from 2,766 kilograms in 2007 to 6,486 kilograms in 2008. Over the same period, the wholesale value of foreign vessel landings increased by 39.5 per cent from €19,611 to €27,362.

Indices

The quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fish price index for the second quarter of 2008 stood at 148.65 points, up by 23.12 points (+18.4 per cent) over the corresponding quarter in 2007. Similarly, the quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fish volume index increased slightly by 2.14 points (+2.9 per cent) to 77.10 points in the second quarter of 2008.

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