Filipino-Taiwanese firm to open tuna plant in PNG

NAMBAWAN Seafoods Tuna, a joint venture between Filipino and Taiwanese firms, expect to bring online a tuna processing plant in Papua New Guinea in September this year.

The “state-of-the-art” tuna loining and canning plant, which is being built to process 150 tons to 200 tons of tuna daily, is owned by Taiwan’s FCF Fishery Co. Ltd. and the Philippines’ Trans Pacific Journey Fishing Corp. and TSP Mariner Industries.

Nambawan has an exclusive off-take agreement with FCF, which is based in Kaoshiung and is distributing tuna products globally.

The tuna processing plant, which is located in Lae City, would be the second such facility in which Filipino firms have a stake.

Another plant which is already operating, also in Lae City, is being run by Majestic Seafood Ltd. — a partnership between Thai Union of Thailand and Philippine firms Century Canning and Frabelle Foods.

In a statement, FCF said Nambawan and its associated fleet had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PNAO/Pacifical to maintain compliance with the sustainability standards of the  Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) while trading tuna harvested from waters of Pacific island nations.

The agreement helps effectively market the group’s MSC-certified tuna while promoting the long-term sustainability of the Pacific islands region.

According to FCF, there are more than 60 FCF-associated fishing vessels that are ready for certification with the MSC.