Sharp increase in fish landings reported

The volume and wholesale value of fish landings advanced by 73.1 and 32.1 per cent respectively in the third quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, the NSO said today.
It said fish landings amounted to 526,670 kilograms, up by 73.1 per =cent over the third quarter last year. This resulted from more landings in most of the species, mainly Swordfish (+24.6 per cent) and Dorado (+20.4 per cent). A spike in Mackerel landings by Gozitan fishermen was also a contributing factor.

The wholesale value of fresh fish landings rose by 32.1 per =cent, from €1,671,174 in the third quarter of 2008 to €2,207,661 in the corresponding period this year.

Foreign vessel landings
In the third quarter of 2009, foreign-flagged vessels landed a total of 4,872 kilograms of fish, 87.4 per cent
more over the comparative period in 2008 - 0.9 percent of the total catch, while their wholesale value more than doubled, from €12,567 in 2008 to €29,302 in 2009.