Mediterranean bluefin tuna landings drop by a massive 32.3 percent
By Matthew Vella
Wednesday, August 04, 2010 The volume and wholesale value of fresh fish landings dropped by 9.9 and 7.5% respectively in the second quarter this year when compared to 2009. Data from the National Statistics Office for the period April-June 2009 record fish landings amounted to 331,243 kilograms, a decrease of 9.9% over the second quarter of 2009. This was due to a decrease in landings of most major species. Blue Fin Tuna, the dominant species landed, registered a drop of 32.3%. An action by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society this year managed to free some 800 tuna from a Maltese cage, believed to be worth some €1 million in value according to tuna farmers who were towing the cage. The fishing season was also closed earlier than expected by the European Commission, after fish quotas had already been reached. Indeed, the wholesale value of fresh fish landings declined by 7.5% to €2,138,825. A drop of 16.5% was registered in the wholesale price per kilogram for Blue Fin Tuna. Maltese fishermen landed 285,061 kilograms of fresh fish during the period under review, an increase of 6.8% over 2009. Fish landings by Maltese fishermen represented 86.1% of total landings. Swordfish landings advanced by 85.5% while a drop of 22.8% was registered for Blue Fin Tuna. The wholesale value of fish landings by Maltese fishermen rose by 1.5% to €1,926,972 over the second quarter last year. Gozitan fishermen landed 43,004 kilograms (-53.9%) of fresh fish during the period under review, making up 13.0% of total landings. Swordfish landings advanced by 54.3%. Landings of most of the other major species registered a decline. The wholesale value for fish landings during the second quarter amounted to €187,317, down by 49.4% over the comparative period of 2009. Foreign-flagged vessels landed 3,178 kilograms of fresh fish during the second quarter, a drop of 57.9%. Landings by foreign-flagged vessels made up just 1.0% of the total catch. Their wholesale value amounted to €24,536, registering a decline of 42.9%.
