As part of the 85th Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) important agreements were adopted on conservation and tuna management and for the protection of ecosystems in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO).
The IATTC meeting and the 27th Meeting of the Parties of the International Programme for the Protection of Dolphins (Apicd) were held between 3 and 14 June in the Mexican city of Veracruz.
During the IATTC meeting a ban was approved on yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) for 62 days between 2014 and 2016. Besides, a catch quota amounting to 5,000 tonnes was approved for the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus orientalis).
In this regard, the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) noted that both measures are fully consistent with the best scientific evidence available.
Furthermore, Conapesca authorities were very satisfied by the fact that these provisions "are exactly those recommended by the scientific staff of the Commission and were accepted by the Mexican tuna industry."
They also noted that, for the first time, rules have been established to control the use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD). This tuna fishing method, used by various fleets, is considered highly predatory because it captures multiple juvenile tuna specimens and multiple species, such as sharks and turtles.
This proposal had been discussed for several years, but no consensus has been reached to date.
Conapesca head, Mario Aguilar Sanchez, highlighted the important research and assessments on the abundance of fish stocks the IATTC per forms, which he described as key to ensuring the sustainability and exploitation of tuna.
At present, tuna production ranks third in volume and in value in Mexico, with 124,935 tonnes in 2012 for a value amounting to MXN 1,307 million (USD 101.1 million).
The meeting held in Veracruz was attended by delegates from over 20 countries that are members of the IATTC, industry representatives, non-governmental organizations and several international organizations.