W Sumatra Tuna is Sent To Japan, US

Padang, (Antaranews Sumbar) - Japan and United States (US) become the largest market for tuna fish catches in West Sumatra, especially for big eye tuna and yellow fin tuna. "The deliveries to these two countries are conducted daily through the sea lane at Teluk Bayur Port and air line at Minangkabau International Airport (BIM)," West Sumatra Vice Governor, Nasrul Abit said after reviewing one of PT Dempo Andalas Samudera tuna exporter company in Samudra Bungus Harbor (PSB) in Padang on Wednesday. To fulfill market demand, he said, the company accommodates all the tuna catches of fishermen, not only from West Sumatra but also from outside areas such as Bengkulu. The tuna is then sorted, partly to fulfill the export needs of fresh tuna and frozen tuna, some processed into steak. "This is very helpful for our fishermen, because no need to bother again to sell the catches tuna," Nasrul stated. Meanwhile, Supervisior Quality Control of PT Dempo Andalas Samudera, Yusri Handarini, said that the company is able to producing 20 tons of tuna per day including big eye tuna and yellow fin tuna. In addition to fresh tuna, it also does the processing with the resulting product in the form of steak. "Fresh and frozen tuna are mostly exported to Japan while steaks to United States," he said. Head of the Office of Marine and Fisheries of West Sumatra Yosmeri said PT Dempo Andalas Samudera is the only tuna fish exporting company in West Sumatra that has been operating since 2007 or eleven years until today. Its existence greatly facilitate fishermen to market the catch. "Everyday, usually at night, the company accommodates all the catches of our fishermen," he added. (cha)