The first northern bonito of the season has changed course. Unlike in recent years, the initial landings were not marketed at the Asturian fish market of Avilés. This time, the catches made by the fishermen of the 'Gure Fátima', from Bermeo and captained by Álex González, were sold at the Galician port of Burela.

The Vizcayan vessel arrived late Wednesday after a trip that began at the end of April, heading northwest towards the Azores islands, about a thousand nautical miles away. After locating tuna schools closer to Madeira than initially anticipated, they managed to fill their holds with 2,100 kilos of the prized species. As Álex González explained, he chose the port of Burela because it was closer.

Of the total catch, 1,400 kilos were medium-sized, and the remaining 700 were of the smaller 'monos'. The average price was 8.73 euros per kilo, although prices reached nearly 10 euros for the heaviest fish and just over six for the rest, which were acquired by a local fish company.

The fishermen from Bermeo will now join 23 other fishing boats that have so far barely achieved their objectives. In fact, boats returning to port have done so to replenish supplies and refuel. The start of the season, considered a lifeline for a large part of the inshore fleet, is arriving later than ever. Last year, specimens were already available in fish markets on May 12th, unloaded by the 'Goienkale', also from Bermeo.

The 2025 season was the best northern bonito season in the last ten years, even though the sector decided to end the campaign in October with quota still available, citing that catches were located far from the Cantabrian Sea. Currently, the northern bonito is still far away, requiring multi-day trips with the consequent economic cost, especially for diesel fuel (which has risen from 0.55 to 1 euro per liter) and provisions for the crew.

In any case, the latest studies by ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) confirm the good health of this species' population. The total allowable catch (TAC) for the community fleet amounts to 47,251 tons, of which nearly 28,000 correspond to units from the Cantabrian Sea fishing under the Spanish flag.

According to the official registry of first fish sales notes from the Basque Government, last year's bonito campaign registered a total of 10,799 tons, of which 7,650 were unloaded in the ports of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. The remaining 3,148 were marketed in fish markets in other Cantabrian communities such as El Musel, Avilés, Burela, and Laredo.

In Bermeo, 1,100 tons were auctioned, with a first sale value of 3.6 million euros, while in Ondarroa, 900 tons were sold at a valuation of 3.3 million euros.