Seafood wholesalers and exporters, Southern Star Seafood Pty Ltd has secured a deal to export live seafood to San Francisco.
With more than 30 years of experience, the company, which is fully owned by its parent company from Australia, will be exporting live mud crabs, fish, slipper lobsters, and lobsters to San Francisco.
Business Development director Edmond Wong said the company believed there was 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,” he said.
After a rigorous process Southern Star Seafood Pty Ltd managed to secure the deal.
“No company has exported live seafood from Fiji since 2006,” Mr Wong said.
“We are the first company granted the licence and with strict conditions.
“We communicated with various ministries and departments such as Biosecurity of Fiji, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Fisheries. The responses from them are very positive and after 4 months of process, we finally got our export permit on 8th August, 2023,” he added.
The company had to meet several requirements, including having a state-of-the-art live seafood holding facility and complying with all environmental and food safety regulations.
The company is working with local fishermen to promote day fishing and one-line one-hook fishing, which are both reportedly more sustainable methods of fishing.
Mr Wong added that Investment Fiji had responded to their enquiries and facilitated meetings with the Western Division of fisheries, as well as facilitating and attending several key meetings.
Southern Star Seafood Pty Ltd is confident that its success will pave the way for other Fijian companies to export seafood to the global market. Anglers and fresh seafood vendors interested in supplying live seafood (mud crabs, slipper lobster, donu and kawakawa), may contact Mr Wong at 8057339.
