The Mexican tuna sector is confident that the matter regarding export of Mexican tuna to the United States will be solved favorably in the U.S. Federal Court next April 7th.
This trial will determine if the dolphin protection demand is continued - and with it also the Mexican export ban-, or if it will be possible to export Mexican canned tuna during the period up to the hearing process, said Carols Hussong González, head of the Mexican Chamber of Fishery.
The demand imposed by the ecological group Earth Island, also initiator of the tuna embargo against Mexico, could be extended up to 15 months. However, industrialists trust that the U.S. Federal Judge will allow exports to resume during the lawsuit period.
At the same time, Mexican industrialists are seeking to formally participate in the proceedings. On April 7th, the judge will rule whether the sector is officially accepted as affected party and therefore obtains full privileges to litigate.
The U.S. dolphin safe label would be replaced by the logo of the AIDCP, recognized by the Inter-American Commission of the Tropical Tuna (IATTC) and other international organisms. In order to finally obtain the decision of the Secretariat of Trade of the United States, during the last decade Mexico has had to fulfill a series of rules validated by the IATTC, such as having observers on board the vessels, the rescue of dolphins caught in nets and studies on the dolphin populations in the Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.
So far, EII has not been able to provide the U.S. Court with any evidence regarding the damage to the ecosystem, and the dolphin population; reason for optimism among the tuna boat owners.
According to Mexican press, the EII is in fact trying to protect their own commercial interest obtained from dividends generated by the dolphin safe concept, which is producing them USD 6 million per annum.
At the moment, the tuna sector’s main priority is financial; related to the payment of lawyers and officers participating in the proceedings. According to Hussong González, the costs for scientific studies are very high and so are lawyers and officers’ fees for yet another hearing.
However, Hussong González also referred to the benefits the Mexican tuna industry expects to obtain with the commercial opening of exports to the U.S. market. This would also enable Mexico to reinforce its fleet with new vessels.
Source: Mexican Press