Traditional Fishermen Sell 70 Pct Of Bluefin Tuna Quotaff

Source: Fish Information and Services

The Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds from Gipuzkoa decided to trade 70 per cent of the bluefin tuna quota that has been assigned to them for this year’s season.

Besides, its members decided to capture the remaining 30 per cent of the quota to avoid a shortage of supplies in the markets and “to ensure consumers” they can obtain tuna from their ships, the federation pointed out in a press release.

In addition, it is hoped that for the 130 tons of tuna sold a higher price than previous years can be obtained, the agency Europa Press reported.

The coastal boats from Gipuzkoa received several proposals for the comprehensive sale of the fishing quota belonging to them. However, this is the first time in years that the initiative is accepted, the guilds added.

The Federation also noted that currently there are circumstances that cause the situation to be different.

For example, it was mentioned that prices are “very low” in the market and the quota allocated by the Spanish Government since 2008 to the fleet in the Basque Country is “scarce.”

As a result, the fishery is characterized as having “low profitability”.

With respect to diesel, the costs are “growing and growing” but are not reflected in an increase in the market price of fish, which reduces “the profitability of the arrantzale (fishing activity).”

“From an economic standpoint, it is difficult to reject a proposal that will provide peace to the primary fishing industry in order to address the upcoming bonito and anchovy seasons,” the fishermen from Gipuzkoa stressed.