Image: Ceipa / FIS

The 2024 bonito fishing season shows a significant change in the pattern of catches

SPAIN
Thursday, August 01, 2024, 07:00 (GMT + 9)

The bonito fishing season in 2024 is showing a marked contrast with the campaigns of the last five years, characterized by a slower and more sustainable pace. This change in the fishing dynamics is generating positive expectations in the sector.

Photo: Kofradia Itsas-Etxea

Unlike previous years, where an “Olympic fishing” was practiced to exhaust the quota quickly, this year the catches are more gradual and of smaller volume. This week 131 thousand kilos were unloaded in Hondarribia (Spain), of which 70 thousand kilos were sold to the canning industry. These figures contrast with the highest volumes recorded in previous days in various ports.

It is estimated that only 20% of the total quota has been exhausted, compared to the 40% that had already been caught by this time in 2023. Emeterio Urreisti, from the Getaria Guild, describes the current season as “more normalized”, similar to the campaigns of more than 5 years ago, when landings extended until September or October.

The bonito caught is medium-sized, with prices ranging between 3.40 and 4 euros per kilo for fresh consumption, and around 3 euros for the canning industry. Although it is premature to make a definitive assessment, the sector expects catches to increase and prices to remain stable to close a good campaign.

This change in the fishing pattern could have positive implications for the sustainability of the resource and the economic stability of the fishing sector, moving away from the model of intensive catches in short periods of time that characterized recent seasons. Fishermen are confident that this new dynamic will allow for a longer and more balanced season, benefiting both the industry and the conservation of marine resources.

Source: Ceipa (Translated from the original in Spanish)

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