Balfegó still cannot quantify bluefin tuna loss caused by storm Gloria
SPAIN
Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 00:00 (GMT + 9)
Balfegó, a company specialized in fishing, ranching and trade of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, has not yet been able to determine the number of bluefin tuna affected as a result of the “Gloria” storm.
The company began the tasks of verifying the state of its facilities, located off the coast of L'Ametlla de Mar, immediately after the stormy weather, but the low visibility under water - just one fathom -does not allow accounting precisely the impact on the number of specimens after the passage of the storm.
Balfegó, which has been in contact with the General Directorate of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs of the Generalitat since January 24, informed this body yesterday morning that "despite not being able to quantify the casualties due to lack of visibility, it seems that there will be significant losses.”
The company has also reported that, according to its first calculations and the specimens found on the coast, the number of dead bluefin tunas is not very high, and that “most of them escaped alive from the top of their facilities due to the strong waves caused by the storm Gloria ”.
People cutting one Balfego's bluefin tuna on the beach. (Photo: courtesy cronicaglobal.elespanol.com)
"We want to quantify as soon as possible the impact that Gloria has had on the facilities and the exact number of affected specimens, but it is impossible to determine it taking into account the low visibility we have and despite the efforts that our teams of divers are developing," noted company sources.
"The company - the same sources pointed out -, within its traditional transparency policy, will report on this impact immediately once we have accurate data on the loss of specimes, which we estimate will be considerable and much more serious than initially expected."
►People have been picking different portions of Balfegó bluefin tuna as a "gift of the storm Gloria". (Photo: courtesy cronicaglobal.elespanol.com)
In this regard, Balfegó expects to have approximate figures on the volume of fish lost within a week, once the visibility under water increases and the company's diver teams can verify the current volume of bluefin tuna “in situ” and its status.
Finally, Balfegó wants to show solidarity, once again, with all those people who have suffered the irreparable loss of loved ones due to the storm Gloria.
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