Seafood: an Industry that Reinvents Itself

For the first three months of this year, exports of sea products are estimated at Rs 2.7 billion against Rs 2.2 billion for the same period last year. In areas of Enterprise Mauritius (EM), we think that with the current developments, the value of exports of seafood for this year is expected to increase by approximately 35% compared to last year, when they amounted to Rs 10.2 billion.

The increase in exports of seafood is in large measure due to the entry into operation of the second fish processing factory of the shipowner Reunion SAPMER. This plant will also be supplied as its first plant, Sea Mascarene Ltd, the two new tuna of the owner in addition to the existing five.

Expected at the end of the year, these tuna will beat Mauritian flag. This will allow SAPMER to export its products to countries in the Southern  African Development Community enjoying the benefits in terms of tariffs.

With its seven ships, the owner will bring about 42 000 tonnes of tuna in Port Louis for processing. " Our markets  today are Europe, the United States, Canada,  Japan and other Asian countries  but China and Russia are  also in our viewfinder. We  believe that our second plant will be in operation by the  end of the month , "says Christopher Talbot, General Managerof SAPMER Mauritius.

Colors that dazzle

The treatment plant Hassen Taher Seafoods Mauritius Ltd , which will be operational in October, treat between 100 and 120 tonnes of fish per month. Princes Tuna Mauritius Ltd (PTM) is able this year to increase production without use of significant investments in equipment. The UK remains its core market, while exports continue to grow as the French and Polish markets.

The company Valfarms expects " that the interest expressed  by visitors to EuropeanSeafood Exhibition held  in Brussels at the end of April  to import fish  precooked salty and then export to Africa is reflected  by orders . " This product is pre-cooked salted fish in St Brandon. BesidesBlue Ravinal Import & Export Ltd. , one of the few operators who arrived in the area. He started from March to export fresh, whole and gutted fish to Reunion.

"This is the line-caught fish in the waters around Mauritius by thirty fishermen. The color and taste of the Mauritian fish, especially the old red, have amazed many at the European Fairseafood . We hope to begin the first exports to Europe in the coming months. Our niche market is the restoration of high-end , "said Gerard Dumas, marketing director of Blue Ravinal .

La Ferme Marine de Mahebourg Ltd also goes into high gear. It has doubled in two years the production capacity of fresh fish to meet the rising demand of foreign customers. With current equipment MMF can produce 1200 tons per year against 500 tonnes currently.