After the decision of the U.S. to approve dolphin safe labeling on Mexican tuna, Mexican businessmen are analyzing the investment possibilities to take advantage of this opportunity.
Raul Corte, President of the Fishery Chamber of Baja California together with Alfonso Rosiñol and Andrés Armenta both ex-presidents of the Mexican Fishery Chamber, indicated during a press conference that the outlook is good, especially for Ensenada after the dolphin embargo of the Mexican tuna fleet.
The possibility of exporting tuna to the U.S. market will allow the Mexican tuna sector to recommence their canning activity.
Mexico is considering reactivating 10 of the tuna canning plants, which were already operational prior to the tuna embargo. Currently only two plants are still working. Mexico is also focusing on increasing the present 5,000 jobs to reach the 40,000 employment opportunities, which use to exist in the region.
Although the embargo was lifted in 1999, only a few Mexican and US industrialists dared to carry out commercial transactions in fear of a boycott.
The threat was latent for the product unforeseen of the dolphin safe label, property of the ecological group Earth Island Institute.
â€The decision is scientifically sustained: thanks to the advances of the Mexican tuna fishing fleet, environmentalists cannot refute it. However, judge Henderson of San Francisco could again tryâ€, said Alfonso Rosiñol who negotiated the embargo-lift in Washington in 1999. He compared Earth Island Institute with the “Mafia caposâ€, who just like Al Capone, offered supposed protection to stores in the U.S. and kept the threat of the boycott latent.
The EII cause obtains about $6 to $7 million with the use of the dolphin safe logo, which was patented by themselves; according to Rosiñol
Ensenada industrialists are getting ready to make investments, starting with a tuna loin packing plant, which will require between $1.5 million, Alfonso Rosiñol announced. It will take a long process for Ensenada to recover its position as base for the Mexican fishing fleet and recuperate the trust for industrialist to decide to invest.
According to Andrés Armenta, ex-president of the National Fishery Chamber, Ensenada takes advantage of its geographic location to regain its place as the tuna unloading port for the Mexican fleet, however the support of authorities is needed.
Mexico could reach the 70,000 tons of tuna exports to the U.S., highest figure ever, obtained in the mid 80’s. However, it is necessary now to find the financing to reactivate the fleet and the industry. The financial losses caused by the commercial ban over the 11 years are estimated in US $1,300 according to figures released by Canainpesca.
Source: Mexican Press