Malta: Fish Landings Q4/2010

During the fourth quarter last year, the volume and wholesale value of fish landings rose by 33.3 and 22.3 per cent respectively over the corresponding period in 2009, reports http://www.megafishnet.com/ with reference to Malta National Statistics Office.

Fish Landings: Q4/2010

A total of 342,869 kilograms (+33.3 per cent) of fresh fish were landed at the local fish market during the last quarter of 2010. This resulted from more landings in most of the species, mainly Swordfish (+43.8 per cent) and Dorado (+36.1 per cent). The only decline in landings was registered in Bogue (-49.0 per cent). The wholesale value of fresh fish landings amounted to €1,025,212, up by 22.3 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 2009.

Regional overview

Fresh fish landings by Maltese fishermen amounted to 185,490 kilograms. This accounted for 54.1 per cent of the total landings during the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of 12.3 percentage points over the corresponding quarter in 2009. Significant increases were recorded in Dorado landings (+113.6 per cent) and Swordfish landings (+43.8 per cent). The wholesale value of fresh fish landings by Maltese fishermen advanced by €199,528 (+40.3 per cent) when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2009. This reflected the increases in the wholesale value in practically all the fish species landed.

In the fourth quarter last year, Gozitan fishermen landed 157,161 kilograms of fresh fish (+7.7 per cent) at the fish market. The higher landings are mainly attributable to an increase in Dorado (+7.9 per cent) and Swordfish (+44.3 per cent). On the other hand, landings of Bogue dropped by 75.6 per cent. In volume, Gozitan fish landings made up 45.8 per cent of total landings, generating €330,203 in wholesale value.

Foreign vessel landings

During the quarter under review, foreign-flagged vessels landed 218 kilograms, representing a drop of 94.9 per cent over the fourth quarter of 2009. This may be attributable to the fact that one vessel has been now registered under the Maltese flag; others did not operate due to routine maintenance. The wholesale value also contracted by 97.5 per cent, from €24,878 in the fourth quarter of 2009 to €614 in the period under review. Fresh fish landings by foreign-flagged vessels accounted for 0.1 per cent of the total catch.

Indices

The quarterly 'All Items' fresh fish price index for the fourth quarter stood at 71.22 points, down by 19.14 points (-21.2 per cent) over the comparative period in 2009. The increase in the supply of fresh fish was reflected in the quarterly 'All Items' fresh fish volume index, which stood at 102.59 points, a gain of 25.44 points or 33.0 per cent over the fourth quarter of 2009.