Source: Prodigy MSN
The commercial fishing season, by the Mexican fleet, for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), bigeye tuna and big eye tuna (Thunnus obesus), bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus orientalis) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) in waters under federal jurisdiction of the United Mexican States of the Pacific Ocean has now started, after reopening last week.
The fleet’s exploitation of tuna stocks in the Pacific Ocean and in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean is of particular national importance for the food production for the domestic consumption, the generation of jobs, both within the fishing as well as the processing and marketing stages. In 2009, Mexico obtained a productivity of 131,621 tons, representing a higher level than in 2008 in which it reached slightly under the 128,000 tons.
Also last year, Mexico sent a complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as it considered illegal the rules implemented by the U.S. regarding tuna fishing nonthreatening to dolphins. Mexico argued that the U.S. restrictions excluded Mexican tuna from the U.S. market, which caused the halt of one third of the Mexican tuna fleet, even though the fleet was complying with the international regulations to reduce bycatch of dolphins. Moreover, according to U.S. rules dating from 2000, Mexico is not allowed to use the ‘dolphin safe’ label, even when Mexican fishermen comply with the standards that certify that their work does not affect the lives of dolphins; a label which is require to sell tuna products in the U.S.
The tuna-dolphin issue is a delicate one, which started with WTO's predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Mexican tuna industry has been facing difficulties in selling its tuna products to its main trading partner, the U.S. market, for the past 18 years, all because of the alleged dolphin mortality incidents when fishing.
Mexican entrepreneurs continue to encounter problems because they suffer from a "de facto embargo", as distributors and consumers in the U.S. market require labeling with the legend that certifies their work.
If Mexico was to obtain this required certification, it would be one of the countries producing canned tuna fighting for the leading position as exporter to the U.S., instead of ranking the eleventh place which it currently occupies.
In 2007, Mexico captured 113.090 tons of tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, placing itself in second place, only after Ecuador with 153.257 tons, according to data from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
Last year, Mexico sold product valued at a total of US$ 9 million to the U.S.