After its strong post-Covid return to buoyant activity in 2021, the trends at the port of Lorient for 2022 are cause for concern.
The auction at Brittany’s premier fishing port has seen its turnover down around 2% to just over €70 million, while volumes are also down by -6.34% to 18,109 tonnes passing through the auction halls last year, but the average price has climbed to €3.85, a 4.69% increase.
A clear decline can be identified, especially with the significant reduction in langoustine landings. While the amounts landed fell by 30%, langoustines maintained a €12.42/kg first sale price and accounted for €8.48 million of the auction’s revenue.
With adverse factors such as extremely tight sole quotas, the inshore fishery declined by around 18%, with 4081 tonnes landed, fetching €26.80 million.
Ling was the largest volume species landed at Lorient in 2022, with 2463 tonnes, followed by 2057 tonnes of hake, 1916 tonnes of blue ling, 1514 tonnes of saithe and 1508 tonnes of monkfish.
Langoustine landings totalled 683 tonnes and 572 tonnes of tuna were landed in Lorient.
According to Olivier Le Nézet, President of operating company SEM Lorient Keroman, the port is still reeling from the effects of Brexit, particularly the offshore fleet while cen be expected to lose a number of vessels under the European support plan.
‘We’re facing a lot of adversity,’ he said, commenting that the port’s import department was able to offset some of the effects of declining landings with 4787 tonnes of fish brought in from elsewhere, a 23% increase, while landings for external sales came to 2117 tonnes, worth €6.65 million and up 12%.
‘Despite everything, Lorient remains a key centre for the French fishing sector,’ he said.
