The Northeastern Tropical Pacific Purse Seine Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna Fishery is a vital fishery to Mexico, providing tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and economic opportunities in many communities; an affordable food of excellent nutritional value and high quality protein to consumers across Latin America; and over 1Billion USD in productivity to the Mexican economy. Generations of fishing families have worked hard to ensure that the marine resources in the fishery are stewarded responsibly and sustainably.

The Pacific Alliance Fishery encompasses an area of ocean extending from the western coast of Mexico. For decades, the operating waters of the Northeastern Tropical Pacific Purse Seine Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna Fishery have been the most observed and highly regulated oceans in the world, with some of the most rigorous standards for marine conservation and environmental protection.

Species

Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)
Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)

Fishery location

Northeastern and Central Pacific Ocean: FAO Statistical Area 77

Fishing method

Purse seine set nets

Fishery management

The fishery is under the management of the Secretaria de Agricultura, Ganaderia, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentacion (SAGARPA)/Comision Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca (CONAPESCA)/Instituto Nacional de la Pesca (INAPESCA), of the Government of Mexico and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

The Mexican purse seine tuna fishery is regulated by the national Ley General de Pesca y Acuacultura Sustentables (The Fisheries Law, DOF 2007) and by measures laid out in the Mexican national standard, NORMA Oficial Mexicana NOM-001-SAG/PESC-2013, Pesca responsable de túnidos. Especificaciones para las operaciones de pesca con red de cerco.

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) brings together participant members to reach agreements through consensus to make management decisions and oversee the implementation of agreed measures which currently include seasonal closures. The Commission is also responsible for supporting cooperation related to gathering and interpreting data to facilitate management of tuna stocks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean at levels permitting maximum sustainable yields year over year. Observer information and vessel registration are also coordinated through the IATTC in collaboration with nation states such as Mexico.

Commercial market

Pacific Alliance for Sustainable Tuna (PAST) represents 4 companies which are vertically integrated in their harvesting, processing and marketing operations and which supply domestic and foreign markets.