Fish catches up over last year

Fish caught in the second quarter of the year rose by almost 43 per cent to 367,752 kilograms over the same period last year.

There was a steady increase across all the most popular fish caught in Maltese waters except for stone bass or dott, as it is known in Maltese, which fell by 23.8 per cent.

The National Statistics Office said the wholesale value of the catch also rose by 11.8 per cent to €2,312,407 but whereas that of swordfish (pixxispad) grew by 18.3 per cent, its average price per kilogram on the stands actually fell by 1.5 per cent.

Similarly, the overall wholesale value of blue fin tuna increased by 2.9 per cent but its average price per kilogram declined by 21.1 per cent.

Maltese fishermen caught 12.4 per cent and 18.2 per cent more blue fine tuna and swordfish respectively, which accounted for 74.2 per cent of their total catch.

Gozitan fishermen also saw their catches soar by 267.1 per cent over last year's, reaching 93,244 kilograms. The increase was mainly the result of more blue fin tuna catches. Blue Fin tuna catches were among the biggest increases registered in the first quarter of this year when compared to the same period in 2008.