Ecuador: Albacore and bonito are scarce, while shrimp and mahi-mahi become cheaper

The effect of the El Niño Phenomenon is beginning to be felt in seafood markets. This, despite the fact that the heavy rains will only arrive in December 2023. Due to the warming of the waters, tuna such as albacore and bonito begin to migrate to colder waters. The president of the National Coordinator of Fisheries and Related Organizations of Ecuador (Conopae), Alfonso Delgado, told EXPRESO that he estimates that there is a 40% decrease in tuna fishing. In a tour that this newspaper carried out in the Seafood Retail Plaza, the P market, Caraguay and seafood stalls in Huancavilca, to the south, it was found that not all the merchants had albacore or bonito. Despite the lower supply, traders say that prices are still holding up. A pound of this type of tuna was selling for $3 yesterday. This value could start to rise in the coming days, as its availability increases. And that is worrying, because tuna is the main ingredient in various typical dishes from the Coast, such as onion, ...