By Atuna.com
Skipjack tuna catches in the Eastern Pacific Ocean are down by 16% this year, according to the latest figures from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
From January to the end of July, the catch fell to 146,799 tons, while 174,763 tons were caught in the same period in 2011. This year’s numbers are similar to 2009 levels, when the catch reached 145,981 tons in the first seven months. The decline, however, is not as sharp as the catches experienced in 2010 when levels plunged by 30% to 101,452 tons. Nevertheless prices for whole round frozen skipjack in Manta, Ecuador have been reaching an historical record level at USD 2400 CFR landed per M/T during September, and canneries are currently recently complaining about shortages in skipjack, which is leading to delays in shipments. Indications are that catches for skipjack during August and September have been declining even further.
The El Niño state present in the middle of 2009 and the first part of 2010 could explain the poor historical catches, while favorable fishing conditions due to La Niña could explain the high catches last year. The forecast for the remainder of 2012 is a shift to weak El Niño conditions. However with skipjack landings remaining over 140.000 M/T it cannot be considered a bad first 7 months on the year.
Ecuador continues to dominate the region, accounting for about 41% of the total Eastern Pacific catch and the majority of the skipjack haul (62%). The country’s fleet managed to catch 91,467 tons of skipjack tuna before 53 of its vessels – half of its fleet – were forced to stop fishing due to the two-month tuna fishing ban. The closure ran from the end of July until the end of September.
Mexico, which concentrates mostly on yellowfin tuna, had the second largest share of the region’s total catch – about 24%. Overall, the total tuna catch in the Eastern Pacific Ocean – 339,856 tons – was 7% smaller than last year’s catch of 365,581 tons for the same period.
