19 January 2012
Mexico IATTC data shows that Mexico’s 2011 catches of yellowfin have been gradually rising throughout the years to finally reach an amazing 53% increase since 2007 (Jan – Nov/ 2007 vs. 2011).
Despite the decline in Mexico’s catching share, from 26% in 2007 to 24% in 2011, the amount of yellowfin caught has been rising from 65,668 M/T (Jan-Nov 2007) to 100.227 M/T in 2011, according to IATTC data.
Mexico’s boost in yellowfin tuna catch is related to favorable oceanographic changes “El Nino and La Nina†(warming and cooling of tropical waters correspondingly). Even though the effect of El Niño causes a decrease of up to 14% in the tuna population, after this oceanographic condition the rejuvenation of the population takes place with “La Ninaâ€, which leads to the formation of recovery loops, resulting into a 40% increase on the tuna population – said the Center for Atmospheric Science (CCA) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
