According to figures released today by the regional Canary Islands government pertaining to the first three months of 2007, there has been a 61% decline in the number of illegal immigrants arriving in the archipelago by sea from north Africa.

So far this year a total of 1,525 have been intercepted compared to 3,914 over the same period last year.

Last month only 303 arrived, significantly down on the last March when 2,120 successfully completed the perilious sea crossing.

It should be remembered, however, that 2006 saw an all-time record of illegal immigrant numbers with an annual total of 31,245 compared to 4,700 in 2005.