Tunis : fisheries production up 2 percent

Fisheries production reached 74,484 tons during the first 8 months of 2012, compared with 72,925 tons in the same period of 2011, posting an increase of 2%. According to data presented by the General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DGPA) at the Ministry of Agriculture, benthic fishery products (deep sea fishing) posted a growth of 13% for inshore and 10% for bottom trawling. In contrast, blue fishery fell 4% as a result of the decline of this activity in main production ports during the second fortnight of August (period of Eid El Fitr which coincides with the rest of fishermen). Aquaculture production also posted a slight decrease to late August 2012, reaching nearly 4,533 tons against 4,542 tons in the same period of 2011. According to the same statistics of the DGPA, exports of fishery products fell by 8% to the end of August 2012 compared to 2011, with a volume of 17,600 tons (192 million Tunisian dinars), against 19,000 tons (191 MTD) in 2011. During the first 8 months of this year, Tunisia imported 28 thousand tons of fishery products for a value of 81 MTD against 26 thousand tons (63 MTD) in 2011. Thus, imports increased in quantity and value by 8% and 28%, respectively, compared to 2011.