Source: El Comercio Digital
A total of 95 vessels from Asturias, Spain, received licenses to participate in the Atlantic Albacore tuna (Bonito del Norte) fishing season this year, reported the head of Fisheries in Asturias, Francisco González Zapico. This represents 6 vessels less than in 2009.
Obtaining the authorization does not necessarily imply that the license will be used. Some owners obtain licenses and use them if they are not successful with their main fishery -usually hake or tuna.
There are 730 Spanish vessels and 1200 European Union vessels allowed to catch Atlantic Albacore.
Spain’s quota to fish this species throughout the Atlantic Ocean is 14.659 tons.
According to Gonzalez Zapico, historically the maximum fishing limits have not been reached. However, he warned, too many catches may lead to a forced closure of the fishery, as has occurred with other fisheries.
“In the case of the anchovy fishery, the quota was also not reached and we know what happened. I think we are getting used to the fact that the goal of sustainability is reached by respecting the limits," he said.
Reports regarding the current campaign indicate that, after several days with few catches and high prices (close to Euro 14 per kilo) tuna banks are moving closer to shore, although they have not yet entered the Bay of Biscay.
