Grimsby opens up tuna route from Indonesia

Published: 11 October, 2007

Mike Dillon, fishupdate.com

TUNA and other types of seafood from waters around the Indonesian Islands could soon be marketed directly into Grimsby, thanks to a new international initiative.

Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education has been working closely with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in Indonesia to try to establish a seafood corridor to the Humber. There are also thought to be similar possibilities with prawns and other types of shellfish.

That area of South East Asia has some of the richest tuna fishing grounds and there are also thought to be similar possibilities with prawns and other species of shellfish.

That ambition moved a stage further last week when the Institute, together with local business and the local council welcomed Indonesian government delegates to the town for the second time with the aim of driving forward a number of pilot projects and a new added value export strategy. Indonesia has a fleet of more than 730,000 fishing boats, although much of that figure is made up of small outboard motor craft. Most of the marine resources in the western part of Indonesian waters have been exploited intensively, while most resources in the eastern part still have room for development.

The main outcome was the setting up of a working group to examine the growing possibility of marketing tuna into the port. A research assistant has been seconded to the group to help with the pilot, which will also look at establishing value added seafood supply chains.

Grimsby Institute hopes that by developing this seafood trade corridor vision, new links can be established between Grimsby fishing companies with their counterparts in Indonesia. More than 60 people were at the South Humber port including officials from the United Nations and UK Trade and Investment.

The Indonesian delegation was led by Professor Dr Martani Huseini, director general of his country's Marine Affairs and Fisheries ministry and said: "The formation of this trade corridor will be extremely beneficial for all parties involved. Not only will our own supply chains be significantly strengthened, but I believe the range and reliability of products available to the British market through Grimsby will improve.

Grimsby Institute's Professor Mike Dillon said it was important to develop trade links at an international level. He added: "We will work with the Indonesian government and their industry to enhance process efficiency and logistics through a programme to improve workforce competency and traceability systems.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.