The volume and wholesale value of fish landings advanced by 83.6 and 70.9 per cent in the first quarter over the comparative period last year, the National Statistics Office said.

Fish landings in the first quarter amounted to 108,947 kilograms, an increase of 83.6 per cent over the comparative period last year, on account of favourable weather conditions prevailing this year.

Swordfish and dogfish landings, the main species caught during the period under review, advanced by 271 and 29.8 per cent respectively.

Similarly, the wholesale value of fish landings rose by 70.9 per cent to €630,301.

During the period under review, Maltese fishermen landed 91,305 kilograms (+98.6 per cent) of fresh fish, amounting to 83.8 per cent of total landings.

These landings mainly comprised swordfish (+266 per cent) and dogfish (+74.9 per cent).

The wholesale value of fresh fish landings by Maltese fishermen advanced by 77.9 per cent to €536,153.

Fresh fish landings by Gozitan fishermen increased by 32.1 per cent over the comparative period last year.

This was mainly due to higher swordfish and bogue landings of 303.6 and 314.9 per cent respectively.

In volume terms, Gozitan fish landings comprised 16.2 per cent of total landings, generating €94,148 in wholesale value.

This resulted in an increase of 39.8 per cent over the fi rst quarter last year.