Caracol Museo de Ciencias in El Sauzal will host a free public celebration of International Tuna Day this Saturday, May 3, featuring bluefin tuna tastings, live demonstrations, and hands-on activities for all ages. The event runs from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the science museum located just north of Ensenada along the coastal highway.
The day’s main attraction is a live ronqueo, the traditional art of breaking down a whole bluefin tuna. An expert from Baja Aqua Farms and chef Miguel Bahena will perform the demonstration, giving attendees a close look at how the prized fish is filleted from head to tail. Tastings of bluefin tuna will follow.
Ensenada’s Bluefin Tuna Industry Takes Center Stage
Baja Aqua Farms, one of the event’s organizers along with the brand Bluefina, farms Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) in open-ocean pens off the coast of El Sauzal. The cool Pacific waters near Ensenada, which stay below 68°F even in summer, produce some of the highest-quality farmed bluefin in the world. Much of the harvest is exported to Japan and high-end restaurants across North America.
The event also includes educational stations and interactive experiences designed for children and families. Organizers say the goal is to connect residents and visitors with the science and economics behind one of the Ensenada region’s most valuable marine products. Bluefin tuna is among the most commercially significant species harvested in Baja California’s waters, both through aquaculture and wild fisheries.
How to Get There
Caracol Museo de Ciencias sits in El Sauzal, about 10 minutes north of downtown Ensenada on the Tijuana-Ensenada scenic highway (Highway 1-D). The museum is a familiar landmark for anyone who has driven the toll road south from Rosarito or Tijuana. No tickets or reservations are required for Saturday’s event.
International Tuna Day, observed annually on May 2, was established by the United Nations in 2017 to raise awareness about the ecological and economic importance of tuna species worldwide. Ensenada’s celebration falls on the following Saturday to maximize public attendance.
This story was first reported by Ensenada.net.