10 October 2013
Canada
The second phase of the fishing season for the Prince Edward Island, Canada’s bluefin tuna fishery, opened on Friday with individual tags issued to only 57 of the 359 strong tuna fleet. The Department of Fisheries estimated this number would take the fishery up to its catch allocation after weighing the tuna landed in the initial season.
From Friday to Monday, already 42 bluefin had been caught, leaving only 15 fishermen still searching. Saturday was the busiest day since the fishery opened, with 18 tuna delivered to buying stations.
A total of 123.03 tons of the Island’s bluefin allocation had been landed by Monday, leaving just 2.949 tons to be caught. A department official was unsure on whether all the remaining 15 tags would be used, but said there will be no room left in the allocation to issue additional tags.
