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Lower Atlantic Albacore Catches Causes Record High Pricesff

11 July 2011 Spain

Source: Fish Information and Services

During the first month of the Atlantic Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) season, the market in Burela auctioned 95,000 kilograms of this tuna species. This volume represents a 17.4 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2010 (115,000

kg) and 42.4 per cent less than in 2009 (165,000 kg).

But economically for the fisherman this decrease in catches is compensated by higher prices. Last month, the recorded quotations were the highest with a kilo of bonito reaching EUR 7.30. or USD 10,450 per M/T !

That figure represents about a 18 percent rise over the price of June 2010 (EUR

6,19) and 60.4 percent more than the price in the sixth month of 2009 (EUR 4.55).

Since June 13, when the first bonito auction was held, unloading has not stopped at the ports of the Basque Country, Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria.

Meanwhile, Xunta de Galicia said the bonito fishing fleet will be supported in August with the ship Sebastián de Ocampo to supplement the means provided by the central government, as agreed at a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Environment, and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM).