Only two tuna farms in Ensenada, Baja California are currently farming bluefin tuna. (Photo: Luis Eustaquio)

Tuna farms forecast slight sector rejuvenation

MEXICO
Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 03:30 (GMT + 9)

Ensenada tuna farms are expected to produce around 2,500 tonnes of bluefin tuna during 2009, a figure in decline from other years, as a result of the worldwide economic crisis.

According to Jeronimo Ramos, a representative of bluefin tuna producers of Baja California state, the tuna farming sector faces one of its most serious crises this year, though it is recovering slowly.

At present, only two farms are producing: Baja Acuafarms and Maricultura del Norte. Both already procured between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of bluefin tuna, and are currently in the fattening stage.

In addition, the first exports of the resource have already begun to take shape, in spite of the depression witnessed by several economies of the world.

The members of the sector forecast a slight rise in prices in the coming weeks, which would help to achieve activity profitability in Baja California, Ensenada.net reports.

While efforts are being undertaken in the global context to reduce bluefin tuna fishing in order to promote its conservation, as is occuring in the Mediterranean Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, captures in the North Pacific are almost completely exploited by fishermen.

According to several scientific studies, North Pacific tuna is overfished, but within its borders.

Bluefin tuna is an expensive product, of gourmet quality, with a guarantee of freshness.

According to statistics furnished by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the Mexican tuna fleet captured 108,687 tonnes of tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) between 1 January and 27 September of this year, out of a total of 413,341 tonnes .

Of that total, Mexican vessels fished 2,520 tonnes of bluefin tuna.

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- Bluefin tuna cut to decimate Australian jobs, increase poaching

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com