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A total of 36 tuna fishing vessels will be keeping to the second ban. (Photo: SRP)
Second tuna fishing ban begins
ECUADOR
Friday, November 20, 2009, 23:30 (GMT + 9)
The industrial tuna fishing vessels of Ecuador will adhere to a second tuna fishing ban in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) from 21 November to 18 January 2010, arranged by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) last June.
The prohibition of capture includes three species of Pacific tuna: yellowfin, bigeye and Mexican skipjack tuna.
The first stage of the prohibition spanned from 1 August to 28 September 2009.
During this second stage, 36 vessels -- currently on their way to port with their holds full of tuna -- will adhere to the measure, El Diario reports.
Among those ships are 4 class (182 to 272 tonnes), 5 class (273 up to 363 tonnes) and 6 class (364 tonnes and up) vessels.
The head of fleet of the company Industrial Pesquera Iberoamericana SA (IBEROPESCA), Juan Carlos Ponce, indicated that three of eight company vessels will suspend their activities in this second fishing ban period.
Meanwhile, Walter Capa, fishing shipowner, said that captures have improved remarkably over the last few weeks following the first stage of the prohibition.
“We hope that tuna banks continue reappearing and do not emigrate,” he declared.
The ban for next year will be for 72 days.
According to IATTC statistics, the Ecuadorian tuna fishing fleet caught 123,546 tonnes of tuna in the EPO between 1 January and 27 September of this year.
Mexican vessels fished 108,687 tonnes; Panamanian vessels, 50,282 tonnes; and Venezuelan, 39,558 tonnes of tuna.
Related article:
- Tuna ban over
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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