At a meeting in Lima, Peru, earlier this month the countries that concord with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) reached an agreement to execute the IATTC ban for yellowfin tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean where Mexico fishes this year will take place during the months of November and December.
Mexican boatowners requested this postponement because of the drop in tuna catch registered so far this year; a drop which will unable the Mexican fleet to reach this year the high catch figures it has been obtaining in the past, which were over 150,000 tons said Conapesca’s subdelegate, Jorge Covarrubias.
The ban will apply during the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 to tuna purseseiners fishing yellowfin, skipjack and bigeye, as well as to longliners. It will be effective during two periods; from 00.00 a.m. on August 1st until 24.00 p.m. on September 11th; or as of 00.00 a.m. on November 20th until 24.00 p.m. on December 31st. Each IATTC member has the option to choose one of these two periods.
During the full length of the ban all tuna purseseiners fishing yellowfin tuna, skipjack and Bigeye will have to remain in port, except for the vessels carrying an observer from the AIDCP Observers on Board program and which are not fishing will be able to remain at sea.
The resolution was modified thanks to a joint effort made between the Mexican industry and government, after the tuna industry had placed and urgent demand to modify the dates of the established ban. Conapesca has demonstrated its cooperation to meet the demands, as well as provide support, to the national producers.