A draft copy of the NMFS report, which is over 100 pages long and took seven years to prepare, was handed to the IATTC ( inter American Turpoical Tuna Commission) on 11 October.
Carlos Hussong González , President of the Mexican National Chamber of Fishing and Aquaculture (Canainpesca), says the report has been handled in a biased and irregular way, contains ambivalent conclusions and avoids stating whether the tuna fisheries damage dolphin populations.
U.S Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans will receive a copy of the report, with the ITTC's comments, on 15 November and will have to make a decision by 31 December as to whether Mexican tuna will be accepted on the US market.
Hussong also said: 'There are concerns within the sector that pseudo-environmental organisations, led by EII ( Earth Island Institute), will take advantage of ambiguities in the draft report to seek new judicial proceedings and will continue with their propaganda, further damaging the reputation of Mexican tuna'.
Although Mexican tuna may enter the US market, at present it cannot be sold with the "Dolphin Safe" label favoured by consumers.
Carlos Hussong said that regardless of the report's findings, Canainpesca will go ahead with its claim for damages against US tuna companies that encouraged the embargo.