While the Mexican yellowfin tuna catch in Ensenada is dropping, the production of farmed bluefin tuna is getting better and increasingly significant.
According to the sub-delegate with the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fishery (CONAPESCA) in Baja California, Jorge Alberto Covarrubias Lopez, the yellowfin tuna catch in Ensenada was of 394 tons between in January and July this year, a number far below the 2,389 tons caught in 2003. This represents an 83% drop compared to last year, mainly due to the low catch during the firsts months of the year and therefore a supply shortage to the tuna processing plants.
In the meantime, according to the Mexican press, Ensenada yielded 4,500 tons of bluefin tuna from January through July 2004, compared to the 641 tons caught last year. This represents an amazing 603 % increase between 2003 and 2004, as well as a great increase in the demand sardine, main feed for farmed tuna.
Source: Mexican Press