The agreement published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF), SAGARPA recalls that IATTC states it is necessary to take precautionary management measures throughout the bluefin tuna distribution area of the Pacific Ocean to contribute to the stability of the population of this species and reduce its mortality across the spectrum of ages, especially the juvenile specimens.
And it notes that the measures should be designed as an interim means to exercise caution and to “ensure the sustainability of the resource” in those waters.
The set quota applies to Mexican flagged vessels with permit or concession, dedicated to the capture of tuna in federal waters of the Pacific Ocean and marine waters that are in the area of regulation of the IATTC, “regardless of whether the target organism is processed for canning, marketing and/or exporting as fresh-frozen products, mariculture or another one.”
According to statistics from IATTC, from 1 January to 27 April 2014 the Mexican fleet operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) caught 52,435 tonnes of tuna, of which 48,137 tonnes were yellowfin tuna and 2,431 tonnes were skipjack tuna.
Its catches were only surpassed by the Ecuadorian fleet, which stood in the first place with a total of 74,134 tones.
