Mexico Tuna Fleet Approaches Historical Catch Record

miércoles 26 de noviembre de 2003

Mexico, November 26, 03

The Mexican tuna fleet is only 10,000 tons away from breaking an historical record of 165,000 tons of tuna captures. According to the latest data reported by the Chamber of Fishery, the current catchs already reaches
156,139 tons.

The majority of these captures, however, have been unloaded in Mazatlán and Manzanillo, and not Ensenada, since only one tuna cannery is still operating in Ensenada, said Victor Ibáñez Esquer, director of Canainpesca.

This year has been exceptionally good for the Mexican tuna fleet. Not only has it been able to guarantee supply for the national market, but also sufficient product to successfully contribute towards export markets.

Captures until October 30th correspond to 20,868 tons more than up to this same period last year, which will allow Mexico to finalize the year exceeding the maximums registered by the tuna fleet, prior to the ban, with half the number of boats.

These results confirm the greater efficiency of the Mexican vessels and a recovery of the yellowfin tuna population in the Pacific Ocean, as a result of the prohibitions that were made during several years -in the month of
December- to compensate for the fishing of juvenile tuna, which was promoted by the ecological group Earth Island Institute with the tuna embargo.

Presently, the vessels showing the highest tuna catch-results are the María Luisa with 8,131 tons, the María Fernanda with 7,506 tons, the María Verónica with 6,509 tons and the Nair II with 6,200 tons.

The year's final figures will be known by mid December, when all the vessels have returned to port.

Source: Ensenada.net - Mexico