Volume of fish landings increases by 126%

During the first half of 2016, the volume and the wholesale value of fish landings increased by 125.9% and 58.5% respectively over the comparative period in 2015.

The volume of fish landings in 2016 amounted to 569,354 kilograms, an increase of 125.9% over the corresponding period in 2015. This was due to increases in almost all the landings except for swordfish, which registered a decrease of 25.3%. Similarly, the wholesale value of landings advanced by 58.5% to €3.1 million.

Maltese fishermen landed 458,218 kilograms, an increase of 105% over the comparative period in 2015. Landings of Maltese fishermen accounted for 80.5% of total landings.

The main species landed, blue fin tuna, went up by 97.1%. The wholesale value of fresh fish landings by Maltese fishermen amounted to €2.7 million, a rise of 51.3% over the corresponding period last year.

Fish landings by Gozitan fishermen increased by 290% over the comparative period a year earlier. This was mainly brought about by increases of 231.5 and 24% in shrimp and bogue landings respectively.

In terms of volume, landings by Gozitan fishermen comprised 19.5% of total landings. Wholesale value amounted to €373,208, an upturn of 143.4% over the first half of 2015.

For the first six months of 2016, the “All Items” fresh fish price index stood at 101.11 points, a decrease of 35.67 points or 26.1% over the comparative period in 2015. The increase in the supply of fresh fish was reflected in the “All Items” fresh fish volume index, which stood at 87.37 points, up by 48.69 points, or 125.9% more over the first half of 2015.