This pilot project wants to revitalize the fishing of red tuna in the Cantabrian

There are more than 15 tuna species, but the most valued worldwide is that of blue fin, popularly known as Red tuna. It is the largest tunid; It can weigh 150 kilos, and the best valued in gastronomy, especially in De Japanmecca of this product. It is a traveling fish that, thanks to the fact that it is able to swim at high speed, to travel long distances and tolerate extreme temperature changes, undertake every year a great expedition motivated by the search for food and to reproduce. “The Atlantic crosses every year, from the American East Coast, and reaches the Mediterranean where Juan José NavarroDeputy Director of Balfegonone of the largest Spanish companies specialized in fishing and breeding in red tuna and the most recognized worldwide.

This family business, with more than two centuries of history and always linked to the Tarragonese town of L ‘Marmela de Marbegan as a merely subsistence activity in an area of ​​strong fishing tradition, but five generations later, has become an international business that Invoice 87 million euros And in a reference “in capture, food, study and marketing of red tuna” thanks to its innovative fishing system through fence arts.

“It consists of surrounding fish, art that is normally used to capture anchovy, mackerel and sardine,” explains Navarro, but they have innovated with tuna. “Initially the fish bank is detected to determine the direction of the displacement and its speed, and then release the network (it usually measures between 250 and 1000 meters long and 50 wide) surrounding the fish and once surrounded, the Red pulling the ends. “

Once collected on the network, they are transported alive to pools 2.5 miles from the coast of L’Ametlla, which they installed two decades ago. There they feed them with blue fish, respecting their diet in freedom and keep them there until they receive an order. It is then that they sacrifice only the specimens they need based on the order, and thus guarantee fresh tuna all year. “This technique allows fishing to be directed to that only species and even release those specimens of lower than the minimum allowed: the 30 kg of weight.”

This revolutionary system was the work of Manel y Pere Vicent Balfegóthe Fifth generation of this family of fishermen from Tarragonawhich have managed to expand to more than 40 countries, including Japan, their main client. Now, to continue growing, the Catalan company wants to replicate its fishing model in the Cantabrian. “A large part of stock Red tuna reaches the Cantabrian, “says Navarro and argues that” the redfish fishing in the Cantabrian Sea is conditioned by its low profitability due to the smaller size of the specimens and also by the weather conditions that complicate their capture with the usual techniques , that is why your capture is very small and the the Basque Country You have to give part of its 1,000 tons of fishing share to other communities. “

To protect this species, the International Commission for Atlantic Tuna Conservation (ICCAT) It sets the number of species that can be fish in each area and, precisely, the Basque Country is one of the most quota and the least takes advantage of since they do not have the necessary means or facilities.

Therefore, Balfegó has allied with the Azti Technology Center To take the Balfegó model to The Gipuzkoan coast of Getaria Through the limited society ITSASBALFEGO and revitalize red tuna fishing in the coastal area of ​​the Cantabrian, by means of fence, in collaboration with the Basque fishing fleet.

It is a pilot project to gain weight to the first tunas in cages that will be located 6.5 kilometers from the Basque coast. “In the Cantabrian, the type of fishing that is used for tunas in general, is with a living cane. Fishing with fence arts to tunas has not been executed; In fact, it is not authorized and they have expressly used it for this project, “says the director of Balfegó and emphasizes that it is a pilot project because they still have to test their viability.” The Cantabrian is not an area where they are going to reproduce, it is area of food so the tuna can be a little fierce Time and sea. and September “.

However, to avoid putting these fish at risk during the winter months, they have installed poolthat “about 15 or 20 meters can be immersed so that the animals are protected from the entire movement generated by the wind, water and waves”, but “it is a new system, it has not yet been done before, although it has been Any test in Balfegó and everything indicates that technology is strong enough for it to work. “

With one initial investment amounts to two million euros and more than 10 direct jobsthis first year foresee capture between 50 and 100 copiesbut with a view to growing in the coming years.