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2013 the consortium was allocated a quota of 165 tonnes, a very small percentage compared

to Italy and the entire TAC (see Appendix B. for quota allocations 2003-2013). The

consortium purchased an extra 60 tonnes, which still left them short by 75 tonnes. In addition

to the high labour costs they also had to finance the expense of the obligatory scientific

observers. Referring to this situation Giuliano asks, ‘do you think we can [operate like this]?’

(G Greco 2013, pers. comm. 31 May). It is no surprise that when I first asked Giuliano about

the future of the tonnara he exclaimed ‘Ahhhh the future, the future is very confusing, it is

not clear because it depends on the European Community and the quota’ (G Greco 2013,

pers. comm. 31 May). If we look back to 2011 the quota was 82.2 tonnes. To continue, the

tonnara had to modify its operations. It is no surprise that the business relationship with the

Fuentes group began that same year in response to quota pressures, as well the increased

policing of traps by regulatory bodies, which along with competition with industrial fisheries

placed the consortium under enormous pressure. In the words of Greco, if they did not

collaborate they would be ‘too weak and could be destroyed’ (G Greco 2013, pers. comm. 31

May). Now, Giuliano says, they have good results:

…we can sell the tuna at 10 Euros per kilo, but live tuna to a Spanish company
and they sell it in Japan. Because now the real business is the farm, fattening tuna
and they ship the tuna to Japan in Nov- Dec because in that period the prices are
higher. (G Greco 2013, pers. comm. 31 May)

It should come as no surprise that the issue of regulation was a central topic and a

major concern for the consortium of tonnare and some informed fishermen and shop owners.

Luigi who has been the rais of the tonnara at La Punta for 22 years, says:

You cannot give a weight, a number [quota], for a type of activity like this…These
rules are made by people who don’t understand the problem nor do they
understand this type of fishing practice…Our gear is set. It is not like we go and
search for them with aeroplanes…There have been some seasons where we only
got 700 tuna, we just got by, like this. When I have them I have to get them, so I
do not need to be conditioned by ICCAT. In Tunisia who is it that controls, in
Algeria who is it that controls? (2013, pers. comm. 18 June)

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