Small lampuki catches in September

A total of 311,648 kilogrammes of fresh fish were landed during the third quarter (July-September) this year, a drop of 56,011 kilograms (-15.2 per cent) when compared to the same quarter last year, the National Statistics Office said.

Dorado (lampuki) landings were mainly responsible for the drop.

Their catches declined from 217,455 kilogrammes in the third quarter of 2003 to 175,902 kilogrammes in the third quarter this year, down by 19.1 per cent.

A marginal increase of 2.6 per cent in swordfish landings, from 75,870 kilogrammes to 77,839 kilogrammes was registered.

Although a substantial decline in fresh fish availability was registered, the wholesale value of fresh fish increased marginally by Lm14,353 (+2.8 per cent) from Lm506,781 in the third quarter last year to Lm521,134 in the third quarter this year.

The increase in the wholesale value of fresh fish availability was the result of a substantial increase in the wholesale value of swordfish landings as all the other main species registered declines in their respective wholesale values, the NSO said.

Notwithstanding the considerable decline in the volume of fish landings in the September quarter, there was a marginal increase (+1.8 per cent) in the total landings in the first nine months of 2004 when compared to the same period last year.

The total landings in the first nine months increased from 728,764 kilogrammes, valued at Lm1,494,545 in 2003 to 741,938 kilogrammes, valued at Lm1,500,725 this year.

Last month, the volume index stood at 97.5 points, down by 40.2 points (-29.2 per cent) over 2003.

This was the result of a drop in Dorado landings.

Total aquaculture exports in the September quarter amounted to 247,679 kilogrammes, an increase of 10,441 kilogrammes (+4.4 per cent) when compared to the 237,238 kilogrammes exported in the same quarter last year.