Pacific Tuna Ventures (formerly Sea Resources International) is a new entity formed in order to promote an open environment for the saltwater sports fishermen, as well as responsible commercial activity.

Sea Resources International (Pacific Tuna Ventures) is a fishing and marketing enterprise that has, in the past, dealt almost exclusively with sashimi quality tuna for the great auction markets of Japan. During the past thirty years, we've successfully pioneered and developed a viable fresh tuna industry in the Marshall Islands and other areas of the Central Pacific. During this period, we introduced, out of necessity, an airlift capability and a transportation system (which later became the official airline of the Marshall Islands) to carry our fresh tuna to the markets of Japan.

SRI fished, exported and sold top-quality sashimi grade tuna (bigeye and yellowfin) as well as marlin and swordfish. These are fish that had to meet the well-known fastidious requirements of the Japanese buyers. To ensure this, we've always handled and controlled our seafood products from the time they leave the water until they are sold. The discerning gourmet customers, whether in Japan or Southern California, appreciate the unequalled freshness, high quality and expert processing and handling of our unique, and sometimes difficult to obtain, specialty seafood.

The member/partners of Pacific Tuna Ventures now get to benefit from the years of expertise accumulated by SRI. With our established infrastructure of seafood transportation and auction marketing, PTV's operations are expected to ramp up quickly and smoothly. And with our attention to quality, both on board and off, we can expect our product to compete for the highest prices in the market place, allowing us to return handsome dividends to our members.

Read more about the Japanese Tuna Market.

Gunther W. Mothes ("Smokey") began his career in fishing at the age of 16 aboard the Tuna Clippers out of San Diego as a crewman fishing from the racks with pole & line, a barbless feathered hook and live bait.

In 1948, he became one of three partners operating the tuna bait boat F/V Half Moon, fishing for yellowfin and albacore tuna in Mexican waters as far south as Magdalena Bay. At that time, they sold their fish to the High Seas Cannery on Point Loma.

From 1951 to 1965, Smokey served in the U.S. Marine Corps. For two of those years, he was stationed in the Marshall Islands.

In 1969, Smokey returned to the Marshall Islands to evaluate the potential of the tuna resources in that area. The following year, he took his first vessel from Los Angeles to the Marshall Islands. That was to be the first of 8 fishing vessels, 4 of which he personally captained. In time, he also brought 3 aircraft to provide transportation between the islands and provide airlift connections to Hawaii and Guam. Facilities were established at Majuro and Jaluit.

The pioneering aspects and exploration of the resource proved successful over the years, particularly through joint ventures with various U.S. and Japanese partners. Unfortunately, the politics and the economic situation in the islands worsened, and with the large influx of mainland Chinese (as well as Taiwanese) tuna longliners into the area, prospects began to disintegrate. Doing business in the Marshall Islands very rapidly became an exercise in futility. However, since then, due to the influence and guidance of the U.S. through a "Compact of Free Association," the business atmosphere has improve dramatically. The Marshall Islands now has a new government and has renewed the Compact with the United States for another 20 years.

Due to various positive tax considerations, the PTV Limited Partnership is formed under the laws of the Marshall Islands. The U.S. and the Marshall Islands provide certain tax incentives for business entities operating within the Marshall Islands.

Since 1995, Sea Resources had once again turned to Mexico, particularly in light of the Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. The company established a viable Mexican Corporation in La Paz, Baja California Sur, and began planning and developing the concept of combining sportfishing with certain aspects of commercial fishing operations. The PTV vessel operates out of Magdalena Bay under that corporation, which holds the tuna permits, giving us special privileges to operate within Mexican waters.

To speak with Smokey or one of the other general partners about joining PTV, please Contact Us.

To speak with Smokey or one of the other general partners about joining PTV, please Contact Us.