In the first six months of this year, 4,700 tons of fish, worth 20 million euros, were unloaded at auction in the Azores ports. In the same period last year, 4,500 tons of fish worth 19.7 million euros were unloaded.
More than half of this fish (2,600 tons) was unloaded at the auctions on the island of São Miguel, worth 9.9 million euros. In the same six months of 2023, 2,400 tons of fish worth 9.4 million euros were unloaded at São Miguel’s auctions.
In the first six months of the year, 413.8 tons of fish worth 2.9 million euros were unloaded at the auctions on the island of Terceira; 502 tons of fish worth 1.9 million euros were unloaded at the auctions on the island of Faial; 317.4 tons of fish worth around 1.3 million euros were unloaded on the island of Pico; 467 tons of fish, worth 1.1 million euros, were unloaded at the Santa Maria fish market; 115.2 tons of fish, worth 1.2 million euros, were unloaded at the Graciosa fish market; 243.7 tons of fish, worth 807 thousand euros, were unloaded at the São Jorge fish market, and 13.2 tons of fish, worth 148 thousand euros, were unloaded at the Flores fish market.

A decrease in tuna fishing

According to data published on Lotaçor’s website, 1.3 thousand tons of bonito tuna worth 2.1 million euros had been unloaded at the region’s auctions by 25 July, equivalent to an average price per kilo of 1.58 euros. In the same period of 2023, 1.6 thousand tons of bonito tuna worth 2.3 million euros were unloaded, representing an average price of 1.42 euros per kilo.
By July 25 this year, 2,100 tons of bigeye tuna had been unloaded (the quota was reached), worth 5.2 million euros, equivalent to an average price of 2.42 euros per kilo. In the same period of 2023, 1.6 thousand tons of bigeye tuna worth 2.3 million euros were unloaded at auction, representing an average price of 2.48 euros per kilo.
Up until July 25 this year, 95 tons of albacore tuna worth 230,000 euros had been unloaded at the region’s auctions, equivalent to an average price of 2.42 euros per kilo. In the same period last year, 128 tons of albacore tuna worth 444,000 euros were unloaded, representing an average price of 3.46 euros per kilo.
Up until July 25, 298 tons of yellowfin tuna worth 576,000 euros had been unloaded at the region’s auctions, representing an average price of 1.93 euros per kilo.
In the first seven months of this year, 72.7 tons of bluefin tuna were caught, worth 390,000 euros, which represents an average price of 5.37 euros per kilo. In the same period of 2023, 71.7 tons of bluefin tuna worth 339,000 euros were caught, equivalent to an average price of 4.73 euros per kilo.

in Correio dos Açores, Natalino Viveiros, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.