SAGARPA sets measures to better use tuna in Mexican Pacific waters. (Photo: Sagarpa)
MEXICO
Monday, June 15, 2015, 21:40 (GMT + 9)
The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) has published a new standard for the purpose of inducing the optimal use of tuna species caught with pole-and-line vessels in waters under federal jurisdiction.
In preparing this regulation several studies by the National Fisheries Institute (INAPESCA) were taken into account through the catch system catalogue of the major commercial fisheries and the National Fisheries Chart.
In the Pacific Ocean tuna fishing takes place mostly in the eastern zone, and basically with purse seine and pole-and-line.
National vessels engaged in the capture of three main species: yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). To a lesser extent bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), albacore (Thunnus alalunga) and black skipjack (Euthynnus lineatus) were also caught.
Now, the Government's objective is to set the terms and conditions for tuna fishing with pole-and-line Mexican flagged ships.
The implementation of the new regulations is mandatory permit and concession holders to conduct fishing for tuna with pole-and-line vessels, that is to say, those that are larger and with a maximum length of 28 metres, equipped with a capture conservation system, stationary engine and with carrying capacity of between 50 and 200 tonnes.
These vessels operate in waters under federal jurisdiction of Mexico and in the marine waters of the area regulated by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
Staff of the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA) and the Secretariat of Marine Affairs (SEMAR) will monitor compliance with the new standard are necessary, in cooperation with the federal, state and municipal public administration agencies.
According to IATTC statistics, between 1 January and 3 May, 2015 the Mexican fleet operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) caught 57,072 tonnes of tuna, of which 52, 905 tonnes were yellowfin tuna and 3,092 tonnes were skipjack tuna.
Their catches were second only to those of the Ecuadorian fleet, which is ranked first with a total of 114,651 tonnes.