Mexico Tuna Fishing Policy Defended

The article “Mexico Backs Away From Pact on Tuna,” by Michael Parrish and Juanita Darling (Nov. 4), contains several inaccuracies which I think should be corrected so that your readers are not given a misleading impression regarding Mexico’s unwavering commitment to environmental protection and the sustainability of all living resources under its jurisdiction.

Contrary to what the article asserts, there was never any “agreement reached with the U.S. government that would have banned tuna fishing in a part of the Pacific Ocean where thousands of dolphins are killed each year.”

Nor is it correct that the “president of Mexico agreed in February to a five-year moratorium on . . . tuna-fishing methods.” Another inaccuracy is that “the (U.S.) State Department has not been notified of Mexico’s decision.” The Mexican government formally notified the United States of its position as early as Oct. 7 during the North American Free Trade Agreement signing ceremony in San Antonio, and later in writing to the acting secretary of state on Oct. 9.

While the Mexican government has been engaged in a process of dialogue with the United States on further reducing dolphin mortality rates in the Eastern Pacific tuna fishery, we have not been able to agree on the best way in which to reach that goal.

While some extreme views in the U.S. environmental lobby call for a total ban on tuna fishing to eliminate all incidental dolphin catches, the bulk of available scientific evidence leads to the conclusion that mortality can be reduced to acceptable levels through a careful conservation program and the gradual development of new methods that would allow those in the tuna fishing industry to replace current procedures. Mexico is actively working with the United States and other nations involved in the fishery, through the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, to that end.

President Carlos Salinas de Gortari has committed his government to environmentally sustainable policies in all aspects of economic growth and development, including the protection of dolphins in the Pacific. IATTC observers accompany all Mexican tuna boats and certify compliance with the conservation programs adopted multilaterally. Substantial funds have been committed by Mexico for scientific research into new methods of tuna fishing that will result in even further reductions in incidental (dolphin) catch.

Again contrary to your article’s affirmation, the U.S. political process has nothing to do with Mexico’s policy on these issues. We are willing to examine any and all sustainable methods for tuna fishing in the Pacific.

We strongly feel that the best way to address this problem is through multilateral efforts involving all participants, and not by the imposition of unilateral measures or embargoes. Tuna and dolphin are highly migratory species, which travel great distances through the jurisdiction of many countries. A concerted, internationally agreed-upon approach is therefore better for the resource and enables all to guarantee its long-term sustainability.

CARLOS RETA MARTINEZ

Mexico City

The writer is general director of information for Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.