The number of illegal immigrants arriving in the Canary Islands this year has fallen by 28% - from 12,624 to 9,089 - while there has been a corresponding 40% decline in the number of boats.

While there was a 30% reduction in the number of adult arrivals, the number of minors fell by just 2.7% from 878 to 854. The number of reported deaths during the perilous sea crossing rose significantly from 39 to 45.

According to a spokesman from the regional Canary Islands government, the statistics indicate that potential immigrants are attempting the crossing in worse meteorological conditions and are travelling further in larger vessels.

The phenomenon began in 1994, when only ten boat people arrived, but there has been a spectacular rise during the last few years reaching a peak in 2006, when there were 31,859 arrivals.

The last reported incident occurred on Christmas Day, when coast guards intercepted a boat carrying 39 illegals - 30 adults and nine children - 46 miles south of Gran Canaria.