Tuna seiners, industry and fishermen specific news from around the globe

Global Market Report-September 2010

Prices of raw material skipjack softened in the last two weeks of August in Bangkok to $1250 per metric ton, from a peak in June of this year at $1700 per metric ton. Packers in Thailand and the Philippines are currently offering small lots of finished product simply to keep the factories in operation. Recent pricing for small quantities of canned retail sized tins actually is being offered below today’s cost of production. At these levels for finished product, the breakeven point for the canners would reflect a raw material skipjack market of $1100 per metric ton, which the market has not yet seen. Global demand for canned product, as well as for frozen loins, has been very weak with buyers sitting on the side lines waiting for a further... (more...)

American-Japan business partners eye $ 21-M tuna cannery plant in Surigao City

SURIGAO CITY, Sept 1 (PNA) – Economic boom continues to spur in this nickel and city of adventure in northeastern part of Mindanao as an American-Japan business partners are set to build a $ 21-million cannery plant here, city officials here reported Tuesday. The Crystal Corp. will release an initial amount of $ 8 million for the mobilization of this tuna cannery plant, the city officials in this city said during an interview with newsmen. Along with some members of the city legislative body, City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas said the proposed tuna cannery site is located in an almost three-hectare area at barangay Lipata, about seven kilometers away from the heart of the city. The area is also facing Pacific Ocean. “The construction of this... (more...)

TUNA 2010 – Just 30 days to go …

With barely a month to go, Tuna 2010 is gaining added momentum with the inclusion of Ernest Z. Bower from the Center of Strategic and International Studies (CSIS, USA). He will add to the already impressive line-up of speakers which includes industry heavy weights such as Chris Lischewski, the President & CEO of Bumble Bee Food LLC, USA. Ernest Z. Bower, Senior Adviser and Director, Southeast Asia Programme, the Center of Strategic and International Studies (CSIS, USA) will deliver the keynote address on “The Seven Revolutions”, a thought provoking presentation that gives an interesting and lively outlook of the future of the world over the next 25-50 years. Mr. Bower is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on economics,... (more...)

StarKist: Phase 1 of cannery layoffs started Sat.

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — Nearly half of the 800 workers StarKist Co. planned to lay off at its American Samoa tuna cannery this year will lose their jobs this weekend. “The first phase of layoffs will commence on Aug. 28, affecting 380 employees,” StarKist Samoa General Manager Brett Butler testified Thursday before the U.S. territory’s House Commerce Committee. He said the rest of the layoffs would occur in October, but no firm date has been set. The panel called the hearing to learn the status of the company’s planned layoffs, which were announced in May as a way to save money. The job cuts will shrink StarKist’s work force in American Samoa to less than 1,200, down from a peak of more than 3,000 two... (more...)

Taiwan joins Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

Taiwan has officially become a full member of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), according to the Council of Agriculture on Friday. The IATTC is in charge of the management and conservation of tuna in the East Pacific. The waters are a high source of income for Taiwanese who export the raw fish. Taiwan has been an IATTC observer since 1973, but this status has never allowed voting rights for Taiwan within the commission. An official from Taiwan’s Fishery Agency, Tsay Tzu-yaw, explained why Taiwan’s recent entry is significant. “Membership into the commission will allow Taiwan to vote in the commission’s policy-making process and gives a boost to the rights of Taiwanese fishermen. It’s also very... (more...)

Tunaseiners.com

By admin For tuna followers

Caribe The word tuna dates back only to 1880 in print and is attributed as a Spanish American derivation of the English counterpart, tunny.

It is derived from the Latin Thunnus, the name of its scientific genus. Tuna has been fished from the warm, temperate parts of the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans since ancient times.

The modern and real tuna fisherman begun to work first in the bait boats, and later on move to the big tuna seiners with the invention of the power block and the big seine nets, also increase the size of the boats, and the capacity and autonomy of the fleets, some spending an average of two or three months per trip depending of the season, we know of some koreans boats that stay in fishing grounds for about 6 months without going ashore, doing the refueling and unloading in high seas.

Please if you feel interested in this subject, just as a fisherman, curiosity, researching or just to become part of a community join us, signing up is easy and quick, just provide a real email and follow the instructions and in matter of couple minutes be a part of the Tunaseiners.com!

I believe we will able to interact much better with this new platform, there is a lot of ideas to make the site better and better, of course with all your support and collaboration.

I want to thank to my friend Tom Walsh for all the constant support and encouragement, also many thanks to Luis León Falla (gordo lucho) in San Diego, and to all of you helping to keep alive the good name and the pride of the tuna fishermen.

Sincerely

Calidro Morello

Senior- Editor