Jerónimo Ramos Sáenz Pardo, president of the National Fishery and Aquaculture Commission (Conapesca), indicated that Mexico expects to reach 50,000 tons of tuna exports to Italy alone during 2003. Sáenz Pardo informed the press that Mexico would continue supervising the tuna fleet to ensure it complies with the International Dolphin Conservation Program while catching tuna. He also indicated that the tuna fleet has sufficient capacity to meet the demands of an increase in sales both nationally as well as abroad.
A record catch of more than 149,000 tons of Yellowfin, Bluefin and Skipjack was registered last year.