Exporters Stop Buying Tuna

TEMPO Interactive, Makassar:Tuna exporters must temporarily stop buying fish from fishermen. M. Indra Ispas, PT Nuansa Cipta Manager, said the US, for instance, as one of the export destination countries, was questioning the quality of the tuna processing. “They want the products to be in accordance with the standards, including applying sterility in the processing,” Indra said yesterday.

Indra explained that the processing standards included workers wearing gloves because they cannot directly touch the fish to keep it sterile. He said one sample container was once rejected because the buyer found items which failed to meet the standard. PT Nuansa Cipta is temporarily rejecting fishermen’s catches from Kendari, Mamuju, Galesong and other areas.

Adil,a fisherman in Paotere Port, said fishermen rarely catch tuna because besides being difficult to catch, it is sometimes problematic to sell tuna. Adil said some ships carry tuna fish caught by fishermen, but there are only around eight to ten fish. “We must catch tuna with a rod,” he said. Adil said he prefers catching cepa, sunu, and katamba fish because they are easier to sell and he only needs a net to catch them.

Achmad Habib, the South Sulawesi Industry and Trade Office chief in charge of foreign trade, admitted that tuna fish exports for South Sulawesi are small in number. The reason was that it is not the province’s major product. Nevertheless, Achmad lamented the marketing of tuna fish which has been hindered by requiring to meet standards. He said there should have been a report from the company so the government is aware of the problem and to immediately make a decision on the issue.

SYAMSULMARLIN