The National Association of Freezer Tuna Vessel Owners (A.N.A.B.A.C.) groups the Basque tuna freezer fleet of purse seine fishing.

It has 9 companies based in Bermeo, although the activities of the fleet take place several thousand miles away.

Currently a total of 19 ships are attached to the association, whose activity is carried out in the tropical waters of the Atlantic (by the Gulf of Guinea) and Indian oceans (from the East African coast to the Chagos islands), both within as well as outside the EEZs of the riparian countries, since the tuna that develops in these waters is a highly migratory species and is not permanently located in a certain fishing ground.

The main tuna species caught by the freezer fleet are yellowfin tuna (Yellowfin Tuna) and Skipjack, with more than 60% of production destined for export.

These species are tropical tuna in waters of the Indian Ocean and Atlantic, this fleet does not catch bluefin tuna since it is not a species typical of tropical waters.

The fishing method of these places is the purse seine through nets that surround the tuna bank.

Once hoisted on board, the fish is frozen by immersing it in brine tanks at a temperature of -16 degrees Celsius.

The fish is unloaded directly to the canning factory in Africa (mainly in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, etc.) or transshipped to a refrigerated merchant destined for the main tuna markets (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Thailand, etc.).

The ships only return every four years, in order to carry out the four-year repair.

Address:	Txibitxiaga, 24 Entreplanta
City:	Bermeo
State:	Vizcaya (48370)
Telephone:	+34 946 882 806
Fax:	+34 946 885 017
Homepage:	Link to Homepage
Email:	[email protected]