W Sumatra Fish Exports are Dominated by Fresh Tuna

Padang, (Antaranews Sumbar) - Fish exports from West Sumatra are dominated by fresh tuna followed by processed tuna and frozen tuna, Head of Provincial Marine and Fishery Service, Yosmeri stated. "Fresh tuna is the main commodity of West Sumatra fish export. Moreover it aims to export to Japan," he said in Padang on Thursday. The agency data shows 2015 export of West Sumatra fresh tuna reached 135,041 kilograms, rose to 210,682 kilograms in 2016. That number rose to 258,253 kilograms in 2017 and it is expected to continue to increase in 2018. In addition, frozen tuna also has a market in Japan, though not as big as fresh tuna. Therefore, the commodity is also one of the mainstay of West Sumatra fishery exports. The frozen tuna that was exported in 2015 reached 142,818 kilograms, declining in 2016 to 36,200 kilograms. In 2017 it rose to 101,188 kilograms. Exports to Japan, according to him, are conducted by air in Minangkabau International Airport (BIM) with weekly deliveries. Meanwhile, the commodity of fishery products exported to United States (US) is dominated by processed tuna such as steak with the duration of delivery once a month. "Export to the US is done by sea, from Teluk Bayur Harbor to Miami," he said. The amount of processed tuna exported also declined from 220,088 kilograms in 2015 to 61,800 kilograms in 2016. But it ups again in 2017 to 63,332 kilograms. "We expect the export of processed fishery commodity will increase in 2018," he added. (cha)