Traps or 'almadrabas'. (Photo: Stock File)
Bluefin tuna traps register record catches
SPAIN
Monday, May 25, 2015, 23:50 (GMT + 9)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) considers the development of the bluefin tuna fishery in the almadrabas (trap fisheries) of the Gulf of Cádiz is excellent due to the record catch figures.
After recalling that all the almadrabas have a quota that is higher than that in recent years, following the transfers of quotas from other fleets, the ministry points out that after only 20 days’ activity, the three traps of the Producers Organisation of 51 - OPP51 (Fishing trips of Tarifa, Punta Atalaya and Cabo Plata) have consumed more than half of their quotas in traditional hard fishing operations.
According to the Ministry, even more outstanding are the data of the almadraba of Ensenada de Barbate, which this year has captured and caged more than 90 per cent of its quota at this time, and it is only waiting for a day of good weather, depending on the prevailing wind, in order to complete its activity.
It also notes that in the 2014 survey, having less than half the quota it has in the present 2015, this fishery made the latest fishing operation on 9 June, also beating the record at the time of completion of the survey regarding the three previous ones.
The difference between the activity of this almadraba and that of the OPP51 is the fate of the tuna, as in the case of Barbate almost all catches are fattened during the summer months for their subsequent killing and shipment to the Japanese market as a fattened and frozen product, which is very popular in this market because of its high fat content. Only a very small proportion of catches to date has been killed, most of it being intended for export as fresh products also to the Japanese market.
At this time, according to the Ministry, it is possible to confirm that enough bluefin tuna specimens are in their initial compartments for the allocated quotas to be exhausted. There are specimens pending to be killed only in the case of the OPP51 and pending to be transferred to the fattening pools in the case of Barbate, when the weather conditions make it possible for trap vessels and staff to work.
MAGRAMA stresses that the bluefin tuna fishery is the most controlled in the world, with special requirements for product traceability through a catch document known as DCA.
As for the control obligations, it explains that these are derived from international standards of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the European Union, in a Specific Control and Inspection Programme for all Member States and associated Joint Deployment Plan, coordinated by the European Agency for Fisheries Control.
The Ministry "greatly appreciates the important efforts made by the Spanish fishing sector in recent years, resulting from the provisions of the recovery plan adopted internationally in 2006, and whose success is being reflected."
In addition, it highlights the "flawless compliance" in previous fishing trips, endorsed by the European Commission, and that is being continued in the 2015 survey."
Finally, it ensures that "the Spanish government will continue to defend this effort and the excellent state of the stock, at historical biomass levels so as to obtain higher quota increases for future fishing trips."
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