Itsas Balfegó serves as a research platform, utilizing innovative techniques such as acoustics, electronic tagging, and eDNA to advance methods

Itsas Balfegó Reaches Final Phase of Bluefin Tuna Farming Project in the Bay of Biscay

SPAIN
Friday, October 10, 2025, 05:00 (GMT + 9)

Pioneering Initiative by Balfegó and AZTI off the Coast of Getaria Enters Economic and Technical Validation Stage; ICCAT Final Report Expected Late 2025

GETARIA — The Itsas Balfegó project, a groundbreaking initiative in the Bay of Biscay (Cantábrico) led by the company Balfegó and the technology center AZTI, is entering its final, decisive stage: verifying its technical and economic viability. The project aims to revive bluefin tuna fishing in the Cantabrian coastal area, in collaboration with the Basque fishing fleet, through a new model involving the capture of tuna using the authorized purse seine method and their transfer to aquaculture facilities for care, feeding, and subsequent sale.

This pilot project is taking place in two submerged floating pens installed in the last quarter of 2024, located 3.7 miles off the coast of Getaria (Gipuzkoa).

Viability and Local Economic Impact

If its viability is confirmed, Itsas Balfegó is expected to have a significant positive impact on the Basque economy and society. It would allow for the recovery and revaluation of the Basque Country's bluefin tuna fishing quotas, a species currently not fished or produced in the region.

The project is also projected to create new direct and indirect jobs and supply the renowned high-end restaurant sector in Euskadi with premium-quality bluefin tuna.

Currently, the feeding system is being tested on the 75 tuna residing in the submerged pens since July 2025. These specimens, with an average weight of 80 kilograms, were caught during a fishing campaign by the vessel Kantauri 48 kilometers from the Gipuzkoan coast that same month before being transferred to the pens. Early reports from October 2025 indicate that the fish have successfully gained between 30 and 40 kilograms in approximately three months, confirming the process's viability in the colder northern waters.

International Validation and Sustainable Practices

Following the internal evaluation of the project's viability, the results will be reviewed and validated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in late 2025. This final assessment will determine if and under what conditions the commercial activity can be expanded. ICCAT had previously granted a scientific quota authorizing the capture and maintenance of the specimens specifically for this research effort.

Itsas Balfegó is committed to innovation and sustainability:

• Automated Feeding: The project employs precise, automated systems to ensure efficient food distribution, minimize waste, and guarantee ingredient traceability, with all ingredients sourced from responsibly managed fisheries.

• Collaboration: A key objective is to involve local fishermen in the processing industry, generating added value and seeking coordinated strategies to maximize benefits for all parties.

Juan José Navarro, Deputy Director of Balfegó, noted that while purse seine tuna fishing is currently not permitted in the Bay of Biscay, the Ministry has granted a provisional authorization for this pilot experience. "If the project proves viable, the ICCAT regulatory framework will be reviewed to expand the facilities, and authorization for fishing with this technique will be considered for some vessels, always guaranteeing sustainability and environmental protection," he stated.

Continuous Environmental Monitoring and Research Platform

Since the pens' installation, Itsas Balfegó has maintained a continuous monitoring program using technologies like sensors and cameras to record water quality and biological activity, allowing for immediate action against any potential negative impact on the marine environment.

The entire project has been supervised and authorized by competent authorities, including the Basque Government, the Maritime Captaincy (Capitanía Marítima), the Provincial Coast Service, the City Councils of Getaria and Zarautz, the General Secretariat of Fisheries, and ICCAT.

Rogelio Pozo, CEO of AZTI, highlighted: "The project complies with current national and European legislation on fishing and the environment. We obtained the necessary authorizations and permits for its development, including the use of purse seine techniques, which are authorized for bluefin tuna capture in the Cantabrian Sea."

Furthermore, Itsas Balfegó serves as a research platform, utilizing innovative techniques such as acoustics, electronic tagging, and eDNA to advance methods for estimating biomass, migration patterns, and the condition and welfare of the tuna.

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