Mexican Seiner Caught Ablaze In EPO

Mexican-flagged purse seiner ‘Arkos I Chiapas’ caught fire last week while fishing for tuna in the high seas. All the 25 crew members onboard were rescued due to the timely intervention of the Mexican Coast Guard. They were landed in Port Chiapas and medical care was given. The reason for the fire remains unknown but is believed to have started from the fishing net and spread rapidly, reported Mexican news sites.

‘Arkos I Chiapas,’ which fishes in the IATTC convention area is a 79-meter-long vessel with a 1,050 G/T and 1,348 m3 fish hold volume. It is owned by Ensenada-based Hersea, S.A. de C.V. The seiner was built in 1974 by Campbells Industries in California.