Malta - Bluefin Tuna Landings Register Massive 32.3% Drop Q2 2010 YOY - Total Catch Volume Down 9.9%

[hatrack]

Wow. Shocking. Who knew?

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 towng 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.

EDIT

http://maltatoday.com.mt/news/greenpeace/bluefin-tuna-landings-register-massive-32-3-drop

[jpak]

1. and we just lost an entire year class in the Gulf

:(