A total of 350,434 kilogrammes of fish were landed during June Quarter 2006, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

When compared to the same period last year, the volume of landings decreased by 65,541 kilogrammes (-15.8 per cent), from 415,975 kilogrammes. Although blue fin tuna was the major species landed and accounting for 33 per cent of the total landings, the volume declined by 26.1 per cent, from 270,631 kilogrammes in the second quarter of 2005 to 199,960 kilogrammes in the second quarter this year. Swordfish, registered a decline of 1.3 per cent over the comparative period.

The wholesale value of fish landings dropped by Lm90,478 (-8.5 per cent) over the comparative period. This dropped from Lm1,053,446 in the second quarter of 2005 to Lm957,061 in the second quarter this year. There were contrasting patterns which were responsible for this decline.

While the drop in the volume of landings of blue fin tuna resulted in a decline in the wholesale value, this pattern was not followed with the swordfish landings as these fetched better prices notwithstanding a drop in volume.

Maltese landings

The volume of Maltese fishermen’s landings decreased by 17.0 per cent, from 365,943 kilogrammes in June Quarter 2005 to 303,648 kilogrammes in the second quarter this year.

Declines in the landings of blue fin tuna (-24.5 per cent) and swordfish (-1.7 per cent) were responsible for such a decline.

When compared to the second quarter in 2005, a drop of Lm104,770 (-11.2 per cent) worth of fish landings were recorded. A total of Lm831,082 worth of fish landings were landed in the second quarter this year. A drop in the wholesale value of blue fin tuna and stone bass was responsible for this decline although the wholesale value of swordfish and shrimp landings increased over the comparative period.

Gozitan landings

During the second quarter, Gozitan fishermen landed a total of 44,565 kilogrammes of fish, a drop of 5,467 kilogrammes (-10.9 per cent) when compared to the same quarter last year.

Blue fin tuna was mainly responsible for this decrease. Although the wholesale value of blue fin Tuna dropped by 40.3 per cent when compared to last year, the wholesale value of fish landings registered an increase of Lm8,385 (+7.1 per cent). The increase in the wholesale value was mainly due to higher unit prices fetched for shrimp and swordfish landings.

Foreign vessel landings

During the second quarter, foreign flagged vessels landed a total of 2,221 kilogrammes valued at Lm5,907.

The fish price index for the month of June stood at 153.27, up 4.01 points (+2.7 per cent) from 149.26 points in June 2005.

The volume index increased by 5.41 points (+5.5 per cent) from 97.58 points in June 2005 to 102.99 points in June 2006.