{"id":42664,"date":"2025-09-19T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.azti.es\/itsasbalfego-ultima-fase-de-proyecto-engorde-atunes\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T15:55:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T13:55:34","slug":"itsasbalfego-enters-the-final-stage-of-its-project-for-fattening-tuna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/old.azti.es\/en\/itsasbalfego-enters-the-final-stage-of-its-project-for-fattening-tuna\/","title":{"rendered":"ItsasBalfeg\u00f3 Enters the Final Stage of Its Project in the Cantabrian Sea to Assess Its Technical and Economic Feasibility"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul><li>Promoted by the company Balfeg\u00f3 and the AZTI technology center, the initiative is developing bluefin tuna farming in floating cages off the coast of Getaria. <\/li><li>The results of the process, expected by the end of this year, will be reviewed and validated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.azti.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/itsaBalfego_Getaria.jpg\" alt=\"itsaBalfego_Getaria\" class=\"wp-image-42656\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.azti.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/itsaBalfego_Getaria.jpg 800w, https:\/\/old.azti.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/itsaBalfego_Getaria-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/old.azti.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/itsaBalfego_Getaria-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/old.azti.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/itsaBalfego_Getaria-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Getaria, September 19, 2025<\/strong> \u2014 ItsasBalfeg\u00f3, a pioneering initiative in the Cantabrian Sea promoted by Balfeg\u00f3 and the AZTI technology center, is about to enter its decisive stage: verifying its technical and economic viability. The project aims to revitalize bluefin tuna fishing along the Basque coast, working in partnership with the local fleet, through a new model that involves capturing tuna with purse seine nets and transferring them to offshore facilities where they are cared for and fattened before reaching the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In late 2024, two submersible floating cages were installed 3.7 miles off the port of Getaria to launch the pilot phase of the project. The results, expected by the end of this year, will be assessed and validated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If proven viable, ItsasBalfeg\u00f3 could have a major positive impact on the Basque economy and society by helping recover and add value to local bluefin tuna fishing quotas. The initiative will also create direct and indirect jobs, while supplying top-quality bluefin tuna to Euskadi\u2019s renowned fine dining sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, the feeding system is being tested on the 75 tuna living in the floating cages since last July. These fish, averaging 80 kilos each, were caught by the vessel <em>Kantauri<\/em> about 48 kilometers off the coast of Gipuzkoa and then transferred to the offshore cages near Getaria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the project\u2019s feasibility is assessed, ICCAT will review and validate the results at the end of the year to determine whether commercial activity can be expanded, and under what conditions. Beyond innovating in tuna farming, ItsasBalfeg\u00f3 also aims to strengthen the local economy and promote sustainable practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To achieve this, the project uses automated, precise feeding systems that ensure efficient distribution, minimize waste, and guarantee full traceability of ingredients, all sourced from responsibly managed fisheries. A key goal is also to involve local fishers in the value chain, jointly developing strategies that combine fishing and fattening, thereby maximizing added value and ensuring benefits are fairly shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.azti.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/itsaBalfego_engorde_atun.jpg\" alt=\"itsaBalfego_engorde_atun\" class=\"wp-image-42653\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.azti.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/itsaBalfego_engorde_atun.jpg 800w, https:\/\/old.azti.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/itsaBalfego_engorde_atun-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/old.azti.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/itsaBalfego_engorde_atun-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/old.azti.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/itsaBalfego_engorde_atun-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_33_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">&Iacute;ndice de contenidos<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><label for=\"item\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1'><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/old.azti.es\/en\/itsasbalfego-enters-the-final-stage-of-its-project-for-fattening-tuna\/#Continuous_Environmental_Monitoring\" title=\"Continuous Environmental Monitoring\">Continuous Environmental Monitoring<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/old.azti.es\/en\/itsasbalfego-enters-the-final-stage-of-its-project-for-fattening-tuna\/#A_Platform_for_Research\" title=\"A Platform for Research\">A Platform for Research<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Continuous_Environmental_Monitoring\"><\/span><strong>Continuous Environmental Monitoring<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the cages were installed, ItsasBalfeg\u00f3 has implemented a continuous monitoring program using sensors and cameras to track water quality and biological activity, allowing immediate response to any potential negative impact on the marine environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Environmental oversight covers all project phases and is supervised and authorized by the relevant authorities, including the Basque Government, Maritime Authority, Provincial Coastal Service, the municipalities of Getaria and Zarautz, Spain\u2019s General Secretariat for Fisheries, and ICCAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe project complies with national and European fishing and environmental legislation. We secured all the necessary permits and authorizations, including the use of purse seine nets to catch bluefin tuna in the Cantabrian Sea,\u201d says Rogelio Pozo, CEO of AZTI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before receiving government authorization, the project underwent a thorough environmental assessment, considering all potential ecosystem impacts and proposing corrective measures to mitigate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Platform_for_Research\"><\/span><strong>A Platform for Research<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>ItsasBalfeg\u00f3 also serves as a research platform to improve knowledge and management of bluefin tuna, a species that is not currently fished or farmed in Euskadi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through innovative methods such as acoustics, electronic tagging, chemical markers, and environmental DNA (eDNA), researchers will advance techniques for estimating biomass, tracking migrations, and monitoring the condition and welfare of tuna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ICCAT has granted a special scientific quota to the project, authorizing the capture and maintenance of specimens for research purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCurrently, purse seine fishing is not allowed within 12 miles of the Cantabrian coast. However, we received temporary authorization from the Ministry for this pilot project in order to explore sustainable methods. If the initiative proves viable, ICCAT\u2019s regulatory framework could be revised to expand the facilities and potentially allow some vessels to use this technique\u2014always ensuring sustainability and environmental protection,\u201d explains Juan Jos\u00e9 Navarro, Deputy CEO of Balfeg\u00f3.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Promoted by the company Balfeg\u00f3 and the AZTI technology center, the initiative is developing bluefin tuna farming in floating cages off the coast of Getaria. The results of the process, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42658,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":[],"_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"tax-big-challenge":[42,36],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v18.4.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>ItsasBalfeg\u00f3 Enters the Final Stage of Its Project for fattenning 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