The fishing port of Lorient has returned respectables figure for 2024, despite facing setbacks on a number of fronts, including the Bay of Biscay closure and the enduring headaches resulting from Brexit.
The decline in landings slowed during 2024, down to a 3.1% reduction last year, compared to the 5.3% drop in 2023. But the volumes handled dropped to an all-time low of 16,626 tonnes. Last year’s month-long Bay of Biscay closure was a decisive factor in this reduced productivity.
‘We lost a total of around 1000 tonnes,’ said Benoît Jaffré, managing director of the Lorient Keroman semi-public company which operates the fishing port’s infrastructure.
Alongside this, distant waters landings have dropped by 8% to 4470 tonnes, while fish shipped to the auction for sale has declined 11% to 3332 tonnes. But coastal landings are up 32% to 5001 tonnes – in spite of the Bay of Biscay closure – and overall values rose to €67.97 million, up 3.7% compared to €65.54 million in 2023.
The average fish price was up 7% to €4.09 per kilo.
‘We are holding up well, even if it is difficult to be satisfied with the situation,’ Benoît Jaffré said.
2024 was a good year for tuna with 1203 tonnes and sardine, 459 tonnes, but less good for langoustine with 564 tonnes landed.
Hake remains the key species, with landings of 3,082 tonnes worth €5.8 million, followed by 2112 tonnes of blue ling valued at €5.6 million, 1647 tonnes of ling worth €4.9 million and 1275 tonnes of monkfish which fetched €6.9 million.
