Bonito del Norte tuna caught by Spain’s Galician fleet can be found in the Spanish fresh fish market this year fully labeled. Each specimen will reach the market labeled with a tag informing consumers about the product’s quality: authentic Atlantic Albacore (Thunnus alalunga), caught in the artisan way and carefully handled by the Galician fishermen. This data should be sufficient to obtain a better price, at least higher than the Atlantic Albacore caught by the French fleet for example, which use tuna driftnets called “thonailleâ€. These are trawling nets, which succeed the gill nets (death nets).
The Atlantic Albacore identification will be carried out using a labeling system developed by the Counsel of Fishery and the Spanish fishing markets of Burela, Celeiro and A Coruña, which are committed to use this system for the product’s commercialization. However, the Government’s Administration will only provide 27,585 Euro for its promotion, compared to the amount of 120,000 Euro granted last year.
The Counselor for Galician Fisheries Mr. Lopez Veiga said that "with this initiative we pretend to promote the quality and the added value of our fresh tuna, this is what we wish this to be know and also paid for.â€
This system will not only allow to guarantee the quality of the fish, but also detail the port of origin and even the vessel which caught the fish. Furthermore, the tuna will not only carry the label indicating Bonito del Norte (Atlantic Albacore) but also the location where the tuna was auctioned, which is either Bulera, Celeiro or A Coruña. The health certificate will also mention a number related to the vessel, which caught the specimen.