Drastic drop in fish landings during fourth quarter of 2014

Fish landings in the fourth quarter amounted to 172,672 kilograms, down by 25.1 per cent over the comparative period of the previous year. This was due to a drop in landings of the majority of species, mainly Swordfish (-67.7 per cent) and Dorado (-49.2 per cent).

Similarly, the wholesale value of fresh fish landings declined by 22.4 per cent to €954,868.

Maltese fishermen landed 136,253 kilograms (-4.4 per cent), equivalent to 78.9 per cent of total landings. This decrease was mainly due to a drop in the landings of Swordfish (-64.9 per cent) and Dorado (-25.8 per cent).

The wholesale value of fresh fish landings by Maltese fishermen amounted to €742,583, down by 12.4 per cent when compared to 2013.

Fresh fish landings by Gozitan fishermen decreased by 58.6 per cent over the comparative period a year earlier.

This was mainly brought about by a decrease in Swordfish (-83.7 per cent) and Dorado (-64.5 per cent).

In volume terms, Gozitan fish landings comprised 21.1 per cent of total landings, generating €212,285 in wholesale value, a drop of 44.6 per cent over the fourth quarter of 2013.

The ‘All Items’ fresh fish price index for the fourth quarter stood at 114.44 points, an increase of 15.78 points (+16.0 per cent) over the comparative period in 2013.

The decrease in the supply of fresh fish was reflected in the quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fish volume index which stood at 52.99 points, down by 17.73 points or 25.1 per cent over the fourth quarter of 2013.