Tuna vessels at port. (Photo: SRP)

Over 50 tuna vessels subject to first tuna ban

ECUADOR
Monday, August 20, 2012, 09:00 (GMT + 9)

A total of 53 tuna vessels registered in the Department of Fishing Resources (SRP) will be subject to the ban on tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) that will be in force from 29 July to 28 September, 2012.

And in the second period of the fishing ban, which will run from 18 November, 2012 to 18 January next year, 46 tuna vessels will stop fishing, Guillermo Morán Velázquez, vice minister of Aquaculture and Fisheries of Ecuador, stated.

Seine vessels having over 182 tonnes of carrying capacity -- capability classes 4, 5 and 6 of the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) -- and fishing for tuna in the EPO will be subject to the managing measure.

During the closures, the boats being on land can be serviced and go fishing as soon as the governmental action comes to an end.

Morán Velázquez recalled that the government takes such tuna conservation and management actions based on the recommendations of international organizations looking for the sustainability of the resource.

Bruno Leone, tuna entrepreneur, said the industry annually requires about 400,000 metric tonnes of tuna, but the Ecuadorian capacity barely reaches 180,000 tonnes.

"Given this, with investment attractions we have requested for foreign tuna fishing vessels to be allowed free movement and to ask vessels to come here to perform their landings," he stressed.

One of the countries of the region which is key for tuna vessels is Venezuela: "They are buying lots of tuna from us, half of which is marketed in Latin America," the entrepreneur stated.

Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian tuna industry is working on strengthening meatpacking plants to facilitate the supply, Hoy reported.

The latest tuna capture figures published by the IATTC indicate that between 1 January and 1 July, 2012 a total of 289,098 tonnes was caught, that is to say, 6.7 per cent less than in the same period last year, when 309,786 tonnes had been caught.

Up to 1 July, 2012, the Ecuadorian vessels caught 117,299 tonnes of tuna; the Mexican fleet captured 69,403 tonnes; Panama caught 28,633 tonnes; and Venezuela captured 28,280 tonnes, among others.

Related article:

- National register of fishing vessels established

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

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