Tunisia’s annual bluefin tuna quota is estimated at 3,000 tonnes

Tunis: Tunisia's annual bluefin tuna quota is estimated at 3,000 tonnes, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries Yassine Skandrani said on Tuesday. Tunisia exported nearly 3,897 tonnes of bluefin tuna in 2023, worth TND 167.3 million with an average of TND 43 per kilogram for export. In this respect, he highlighted the quality of bluefin tuna intended for export, noting that Tunisia comes second after Spain and Malta in terms of mastering the technique of fattening high-quality bluefin tuna in the open sea, which gives it a high commercial value. The individual bluefin tuna fishing quotas for 2024 are estimated at 58,520 tonnes, he indicated, adding that there are 54 fishing units involved in the bluefin tuna season. For this season, the value of the specific aid for biological rest dedicated to equipment manufacturers and fishermen is around TND 16.5 million. The official further pointed to the lack of an arrangement for the distribution of individual quotas between fishing units in the event of a reduction or increase in the national quota (7.39%). He also recalled that the 2024 Finance Law (Article 17) stipulates that the biological rest fund in the fisheries sector is to be funded by resources from the national annual share of bluefin tuna fishing, with a 40% reduction in the profits of fishing units with tuna fishing licences. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse