Kerala - Kochi   

Matsyafed to set up tuna processing unit

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Kochi is likely to become a Sashimi tuna hub with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) planning to support Kerala State Cooperative Federation For Fisheries Development Limited (Matsyafed) set up a processing facility at the latter's Ice and Freezing Plant at Mattancherry.

According to Matsyafed sources, discussion with MPEDA was at an advanced stage and financial support from the authority would be to the tune of more than Rs.one crore. Once the facility is set up, long-line tuna catch would be brought to Kochi and processed before being airlifted to Japan, the biggest market for Sashimi tuna. Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy of fresh seafood that is thinly sliced and savoured with a dipping of sauce.

Currently, Matsyafed's Mattancherry plant exports Sashimi tuna to Japan and Sri Lanka. In the last financial year, Matsyafed exported 9.4 tonnes of Sashimi tuna, with the consignments earning between $12 and $16 a kilo. Sources indicated that the business in tuna was likely to pick up this year considering the good response from the export markets. With MPEDA laying emphasis on tapping India's unexploited tuna resources, the new venture acquires considerable significance for marine products export business in the country.

Meanwhile, the Ice and Freezing Plant of Matsyafed exported 504 tonnes of yellow fin tuna during the last financial year and earned Rs.2.77 crore. Domestic sale of fish went up to 118 tonnes worth nearly Rs.79 lakh last year. Sources said the plant expected to process about 2,000 tonnes of fish during the current year with the help of the additional blast freezer commissioned in November last year. The domestic sale too has picked up. The Matsyafed outlet near the Kerala High Court has been doing brisk business. Sales from the outlet during the current month are likely to touch Rs.six lakh, sources said.

The Ice and Freezing plant has received firm orders for about 1,000 tonnes of tuna from a South African country. The plant has also received orders for 2,000 tonnes of sardines of specified size from the United States even as it looks to value addition as the future growth path. Matsyafed now exports frozen whole round tuna.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Decks cleared for the reopening of Trayons
Chikungunya cases confirmed in district
Matsyafed to set up tuna processing unit
MACTA decides to stop work from June 15
Resort granted three days to demolish jetty
Chandy: `KSU martyr' row unnecessary
Consultants approved for cruise terminal
Abduction case: three get jail term
Good response to acting workshop
`Supplyco ready for competition'
Anti-drug run today
For a safe journey
Picture perfect
Around The City
In Kochi Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu