September 27, 2024

 

Pilot project to revitalise bluefin tuna fishery in Cantabrian Sea, Spain

Two new submersible aquaculture facilities will be installed off the coast of Getaria, Spain, as part of a pilot project aimed at revitalising the bluefin tuna fishery in the Cantabrian Sea, Global Seafood Alliance reported.

 

The initiative is led by Itsasbalfegó, a company formed by the AZTI technology centre and Catalan firm Balfegó.

 

The project involves catching live bluefin tuna using purse seine gear in collaboration with the Basque fishing fleet. These catches will then be fattened to assess their economic and environmental viability, with the potential to transform the region's fishing industry.

 

"The main challenge will be to determine whether it is viable to use purse seine gear for bluefin tuna fishing in the Bay of Biscay," said Juan José Navarro, assistant director of Balfegó, a company that specialises in catching, feeding, studying, and marketing bluefin tuna. "If this is achieved, and the fattening in cages proves successful, the project could have a positive impact on the Basque economy and society, making it possible to revalue fishing quotas, improve product quality, and optimise fisheries management."

 

In recent years, bluefin tuna fishing in the Cantabrian Sea has become less profitable for local fishermen due to smaller catches and challenging weather conditions. These factors have led many Basque fishermen to transfer their fishing quotas to other regions of Spain.

 

To address this decline, the pilot project will establish two underwater aquaculture facilities 3.688 miles from the port of Getaria in Gipuzkoa. These facilities will be tested next summer, and if successful, additional aquaculture cages could be installed the following year, subject to available fishing quotas for fattening.

 

The project has undergone rigorous administrative and scientific evaluation before implementation. According to AZTI Director Rogelio Pozo, "The initiative has the support, permission, and authorisation of all relevant national and European public administrations in the field of fisheries and the environment."

 

This first stage has also been approved by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which will evaluate the results.

 

Before the tuna fishing begins in the summer of 2025, Itsasbalfegó plans to test the cages during autumn and winter to ensure they can float properly, remain submerged, and withstand the harsh weather conditions of the Bay of Biscay.

 

-      Global Seafood Alliance