Fish stocks recover along Almeria Coast.

AFTER five years of decline, the five fish markets of Almeria province are making a recovery.

Almeria, Adra, Garrucha, Carboneras and Roquetas have seen an improvement in value and volume according to the last computerised catch report for the year 2012.
The 263 fishing boats in Almeria province landed 10,908 tonnes of  fish and seafood compared to 7,689 tonnes in the previous year, representing a 40 per cent increase. The five ports have a list of 390 buyers for fresh fish by auction method, with 961 fishermen and other workers linked to the fishing trade according to figures.
The port with the highest income per boat was the capital with €88,000 followed by Garrucha, €52,000, Adra  €51,000, Carboneras €17,000, and Roquetas € 9,000. Garrucha closed 2012 with 526 tonnes of fish and seafood landed with sales of €3.1 million. It is the most specialised in dredging fishing, in which seafood prices reach a higher value compared to the low weight of the catch. In recent years the fleet has been drastically reduced, and the virtual disappearance of the red prawn only started to recover a few months ago.