The Mexican tuna fleet breaks the tuna catching record in 2003, reports the Mexican National Chamber of Fishing Industry. The 2002 catch was 164,000 M/T and is expected to reach 170,000 M/T in 2003. Most of Mexico’s catch consists out of yellowfin tuna.
Mexican Chamber Fishery manager, Victor Ibáñez Esquer, informed that, although the final figures have not yet been revealed, the Mexican fleet had already captured 168,000 tons of tuna by November 30th; therefore reaching the highest tuna catch ever in Mexican history.
The Mexican fleet consists of 68 vessels. According to Ibáñez Esquer, each boat has a capacity of approximately 49,242 M/T, which means that every vessel made at least four long trips, returning full, to be able to reach this historical record. The purse seiners mostly unload their cargo mainly in the ports of Mazatlán and Manzanillo, where most Mexican tuna canneries relocated to, after the tuna embargo from the United States.
In 2003, the purse seiners with highest catch this year were the Maria Gabriela, with 8,131 M/T, the Maria Fernanda with 8,000 M/T, the Maria Veronica with 7,088 M/T and the Nair I and Nair II with 6,428 and 6,020 M/T respectively.
Ibáñez Esquer also informed that the annual tuna demand for the national tuna canning industry is 120,000 tons. Therefore, last year, at least 50,000 tons have been exported to other markets; especially Europe, to destinations such as Italy and France, where the tuna is exported as pre-cooked loins, for the canning industry.