Market Review: Landing Trends and Value Analysis (May 5th – May 8th, 2026)
The following blog post provides a detailed analysis of the fish landing figures across a four-day period in early May. By examining the volume, value, and species-specific pricing, we can identify current market trends and high-performing assets in the local fishing industry.
Tuesday, May 5th: A High-Volume Start
The week opened with the highest volume of the period, as landings reached a total of 43,591 kg with an estimated market value of £254,079.
Key Volume Feature: The primary driver for volume was Mediterranean Octopus (Pot Caught), contributing a massive 18,370 kg.
High Price Highlight: Quality remains a significant factor in price points. Dover Sole (Size 3, 501-600g) fetched a premium price of £28.24 per kg, marking it as one of the most valuable items of the day.
Wednesday, May 6th: Premium Turbot Performance
Mid-week saw a reduction in total volume to 28,444 kg, resulting in a total value of £168,538. Despite the lower overall weight, the market remained competitive for luxury species.
Key Volume Feature: Once again, Mediterranean Octopus dominated the landing totals with 16,117 kg.
High Price Highlight: Large Turbot (Size 1, 6kg+) saw exceptional demand, commanding a top price of £28.49 per kg.
Thursday, May 7th: Luxury Species Drive Prices
Landings dipped to their lowest point of the four-day period on Thursday, with 21,424 kg landed at a total value of £129,188. However, this day saw the highest individual price per kilogram of the entire week.
Key Volume Feature: Mediterranean Octopus remained the most landed species, though volume dropped to 12,104 kg.
High Price Highlight: The scarcity of certain species led to a peak price for Couch Bream (Size 2, 0.75-1kg), which sold for a remarkable £29.85 per kg.
Friday, May 8th: Market Recovery
The week concluded with a recovery in volume, rising back to 28,945 kg with a total valuation of £164,280.
Key Volume Feature: Landings were bolstered by 15,155 kg of Mediterranean Octopus, maintaining its status as the week's staple catch.
High Price Highlight: Prime Dover Sole (Size 1, 801g+) was the standout high-value item, reaching £28.84 per kg.
Weekly Overview Summary
Over the course of the four days, the market processed a cumulative total of 122,405 kg of seafood, generating a total value of £716,086.
The week was characterized by a heavy reliance on pot-caught Mediterranean Octopus for volume, which consistently made up the bulk of the landings. Price trends remained buoyant for "prime" whitefish, specifically Dover Sole, Turbot, and Couch Bream, all of which frequently exceeded the £25.00/kg mark. While volumes fluctuated—peaking on Tuesday and hitting a trough on Thursday—the average price per kilogram across all species remained stable, indicating a healthy and consistent demand from buyers for both high-volume staples and luxury catches.
Average Species Prices (4-Day Period)
The table below represents the weighted average price per kilogram for each species landed between May 5th and May 8th, 2026.
| Species | Average Price (£/kg) |
| Couch Bream | £27.27 |
| Dover Sole | £23.62 |
| Turbot | £19.66 |
| Blush Turbot | £17.08 |
| Brill | £15.76 |
| Lobsters | £13.93 |
| Bass | £13.78 |
| Tagged Bass | £12.96 |
| Red Mullet | £12.17 |
| Monk Cheeks | £12.02 |
| Monk Or Anglers | £11.31 |
| Mackerel | £10.13 |
| John Dory | £9.09 |
| Sand Sole | £8.40 |
| Hake | £8.00 |
| Black Bream | £7.67 |
| Squid | £7.43 |
| Cod | £7.03 |
| Brown Claws | £6.79 |
| Wings - Blonde | £6.64 |
| Weaver | £6.26 |
| Scallops | £6.23 |
| Grey Mullet | £6.14 |
| Mediterranean Octopus | £5.88 |
| Wings - Small Eyed | £5.80 |
| Wings - Thorn | £5.61 |
| Plaice | £5.18 |
| Lemon Sole | £5.06 |
| Spider Claws | £5.02 |
| Ling | £4.47 |
| Pollack, Lythe | £4.38 |
| Octopus | £4.22 |
| Trap Caught Cuttle | £4.06 |
| Haddock | £4.04 |
| Wings - Shag | £3.95 |
| Sea Urchins | £3.82 |
| Saithe, Coal Fish | £3.66 |
| Monk Head On | £3.52 |
| Megrim | £3.49 |
| Blonde Ray | £2.95 |
| Cuttlefish | £2.69 |
| Prawns | £2.64 |
| Whiting | £2.25 |
| Wings - Cuckoo | £2.23 |
| Monk Livers | £2.06 |
| Gurnard and Latchet | £1.95 |
| Small-Eyed Ray | £1.93 |
| Thornback Ray | £1.84 |
| Tope | £1.77 |
| Shagreen Ray | £1.77 |
| Wings - Spotted | £1.62 |
| Spurdog | £1.41 |
| Spotted Ray | £1.04 |
| Conger Eels | £0.97 |
| Cuckoo Ray | £0.69 |
| Greater Fork Beard | £0.57 |
| Spider Crabs | £0.50 |
| Raybacks | £0.40 |
| Lesser Spotted Dogfish | £0.38 |
| Pout Whiting | £0.35 |
| Scad | £0.34 |
| Smoothhound | £0.26 |
| Red Bream | £0.22 |
| Dabs | £0.10 |
