Tuna rancher buys fishmeal company
Acquisition enhances ability to deliver top quality fish, says Baja Aqua-Farms
Tuna rancher Baja Aqua-Farms has bought Baja Marine Foods (BMF), a fishing and processing company headquartered in Baja California, Mexico.
BMF produces high-quality fishmeal, fish oil, and frozen seafood products from sustainable sourced pelagic species sold for human consumption or as ingredients to the aquaculture and pet food industries. Founded in 2010, BMF owns two fishing vessels and a modern processing plant with capacity to process up to 450 tonnes of protein per day.
Baja Aqua-Farms, which farms off the coast of Baja California, said the acquisition cements its position as the premier vertically integrated bluefin tuna rancher in the Americas, while enhancing the company’s end-to-end supply chain traceability.
Strengthens sustainability
In addition, the transaction marks Baja Aqua-Farms’ entry into the high-growth marine ingredients sector through the production of premium fishmeal and fish oil.
Chief executive Manuel Vazquez said: “This acquisition strengthens our ability to deliver the highest quality bluefin tuna to our customers around the world in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.”
Baja Aqua-Farms grows Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) in marine pens for 12 to 16 months, until they reach maturity.
Stocking density is at or below 5kg per cubic metre, and mortality rate is said to be below 2%.
“Our strong and healthy fish enjoy a 100% natural, fresh, and sustainable diet, locally sourced by a dedicated sardine fleet that adheres to the MSC Standard and is part of the ITM (in-transition to MSC) Program,” the company says on its website.
Wild-caught juveniles
Tuna ranching generally involves using fishing vessels to net juvenile and subadult wild tuna, which are transferred to towing cages and then to marine farms, although some progress has been made in breeding the fish from eggs.
In July 2023 the Spanish government-run Mazarrón research centre announced the first successful breeding of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thunnus). Both Pacific and southern bluefin tuna species had been successfully bred on land prior to that.
