Malta: Aquaculture 2009 report

The gross output of the aquaculture industry, including fish farming, amounted to €76.4 million, a drop of 6.4 per cent from €81.7 million in 2008. This was mainly due to a decline of 57.0 per cent in the value of exported tuna, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Malta National Statistics Office.

During the year under review, the volume of fresh fish amounted to 5,188 tonnes, or 22.9 per cent less compared to the preceding year. Complementing this drop in volume was a 37.7 per cent decrease in the average price of fresh fish, to €8.69.

Intermediate consumption, or the expenses incurred in the production of farmed fish, decreased by 11.8 per cent last year. Accounting for this were lower overhead costs and a drop in the value of purchases related to live fish and fingerlings, of 50.8 and 17.4 per cent respectively.

The gross value added of the aquaculture industry in 2009 advanced to €6.8 million from €2.8 million a year before. Taking fixed capital consumption and exchange rate differences into consideration, the aquaculture industry had a positive factor income of €3.7 million, an increase from a negative factor income of €12.1 million in 2008. Compensation of employees amounted to €4.0 million, slightly lower than 2008, while entrepreneurial income amounted to €2.0 million against €17.9 million in the preceding year.