A Fiji-based company has secured a deal to export live seafood to San Francisco in the United States of America.
Southern Star Seafood Pty Ltd will be exporting live mud crabs, fish, lobsters and slipper lobsters.
“We believe that there is a strong demand for high-quality, live seafood in the US market, and we are confident that our products will meet the high standards of our customers,” company Business Development director Edmond Wong said in a statement.
“No company has exported live seafood from Fiji since 2006. We are the first company granted the licence and with strict conditions.”
Mr Wong said they had established live seafood holding tanks in Nadi that was approved by the Ministry of Health.
“Everything we do is done with sustainability in mind.
“We are going to up-skill local fishermen to start doing day fishing One Line One Hook and much more targeted to the Donu and Kawakawa which will allow them to earn 2-3 times more per kg.”
Investment Fiji CEO Kamal Chetty said it was great to have Southern Star Seafood Pty Ltd exporting live seafood to export to Hong Kong and USA.
“This is a major milestone for the company and for the Fijian economy. This export is a sign of the growing confidence of the Fijian seafood industry and its ability to compete in international markets,” Mr Chetty said.
