World Fishing & Aquaculture | Two new Canary Islands members for IPNLF

Sociedad Cooperativa del Mar Pesca Restinga (PESCARESTINGA) and Cofradia De Pescadores Nuestra Señora De Los Reyes (Cofradia de La Restinga) have become the latest members of the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF).

Both PESCARESTINGA and Cofradia de La Restinga represent the interests of the one-by-one tuna fishery of El Hierro, Canary Islands. While PESCARESTINGA handles the commercialisation of the catch, Cofradia de La Restinga acts as an administrative body with key roles including managing vessel and fishery documentation, as well as advocating for the fishery’s interests at various government levels.

Martin Purves, managing director of IPNLF, commented: “We are delighted to extend our reach in the Canary Islands by welcoming PESCARESTINGA and Cofradia de La Restinga into our Member network. El Hierro’s pole-and-line tuna fishery provides invaluable support to the island’s coastal communities in terms of nutrition and livelihoods, and it’s essential that in an age of large-scale industrial fishing this responsibly managed fishery is given every opportunity to thrive in current and future supply chains.”

Skipjack trade

The El Hierro one-by-one tuna fishery comprises 14 vessels including two 12-metre boats that account for approximately 80% of the catch. Landings are dominated by skipjack, but yellowfin are also targeted when they migrate through seasonal warm waters. The majority of the island’s fresh tuna is transported directly to Tenerife, while the frozen skipjack goes to Gran Canaria.

Canary Island organisation, the Lanzarote-based Organización de Productores de Túnidos y Pesca Fresca (Optuna No 42) was also recently announced as a member of IPNLF.