Descarte y captura incidental de la flota atunera mexicana menor de 363 tm de capacidad de acarreo en 1996

Abstract

Due to the importance of fishing in a responsible manner, following FAO's Code of Conduct for Responsaible Fishing, there is the need to estimate the incidental catch and discard of all fisheries worldwide. The fishing logbooks of the mexican tunaboats with less than 363 metric tons of carrying capacity were analyzed to estimate the level of tuna discards and incidental catches during 1996. Due to the absence of scientific observers aboard, direct and indirect methods were used. The tun discard estimate varied fro 190 to 230 metric tons, and the incidental catch estimate from 146 to 262 metric tons of different species or group os species. The discard estimate represents approximately 1.3 to 1.6% of total catch, and the incidental catch estimate about 1.0 to 1.8%. These levels are low compared to worldwide and other tun fisheries discard and incidental catch estimates, but the damage they cause to the populations affected are subject to further population dynamic studies.