Mazatlán and the Most Important Tuna Production in Mexico

In December 2016, the United Nations Assembly approved that every May 2nd would be commemorated as World Tuna Day, with the purpose of generating sustainable fishing practices and conserving tuna populations to prevent them from dangerously declining.Tuna plays a fundamental role in the food supply of millions of people around the world. Its meat, rich in protein, minerals, Omega 3, and vitamin B12, makes it one of the most in-demand foods.The data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is staggering, as it is estimated that annually more than 7 million tons of tuna are caught, representing 20% of the total value of marine fishing and only 8% of the total trade in seafood products. In summary, tuna is one of the fish most threatened by excessive demand.To celebrate this date, Atún Dolores organized a guided tour of the tuna processing plants of Grupo Pinsa, located in the fishing port of Mazatlán, Sinaloa. Along with this tour, a delicious four-course dinner orchestrated by the renowned Chef Aquiles Chávez took place in the evening.With nearly 13 production lines, refrigeration facilities for storage with a capacity of 21,000 tons, and storage warehouses for about 2 million boxes of canned products, Grupo Pinsa is considered one of the most important and representative tuna businesses in the fishing industry of Latin America and, of course, Mexico. This company has a certification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a global organization responsible for establishing standards for sustainable fishing, as well as managing an eco-labeling program for wild fishing.Purse seine is the name given to the fishing system used here, and FAO 77 is the fishing area delineated and assigned by the FAO for catching tuna schools. Within this plant, only yellowfin tuna weighing over 20 kilograms is processed. Additionally, this system is so effective that it ensures dolphins are not captured, and if this happens, they are released without causing harm.Undoubtedly, the process of locating the schools is one of the most important activities of the plant; to locate them, a fleet of 26 helicopters operates within a 25-mile radius. Meanwhile, a government agency official monitors and ensures that fishing is carried out sustainably. In this plant, more than 750 employees work daily across 3 shifts, and it takes only 16 minutes from the moment the tuna is received until it is canned. Only one tuna is needed to produce 700 cans.Monthly, about 2,500 tons of tuna are caught, which represents 60,000 tuna pieces per month and 3 million cans daily. Of this production, only 20% remains in Mexico, while the rest is exported to Europe and Canada, primarily.