(vasep.com.vn) In the period between September 25th and 28th 2012, at the invitation of Nemuro city government, a delegation of Vietnam seafood enterprises including representatives from HAI NAM Co.,Ltd, Investment Commerce Fisheries Corporation (INCOMFISH), Cau Tre Export Goods Processing JSC (CTE JSCO), Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and some leaders of Hapro and Vi Bien Co., Ltd paid a visit to Nemuro city (Japan) in order to discuss trade cooperation with seafood enterprises in Nemuro and promote seafood exports of the city.
Nemuro city with the population of 30,000 people located in the east pole of Hokkaido island in the Okhost and Pacific Ocean water has a plentiful marine resource and fishing ground. For the past 140 years, Nemuro has been considered as a key seafood city in Japan.
With 70 percent of people operating in fisheries industry, seafood sector is regarded the cutting-edge economic sector of the city. The city’s annual fishery production reached 120,000 – 150,000 MT, mainly wild-catch with two main species of Pacific saury (sanma) and salmon.
In September 25th, Vietnam delegation visited Hanasaki Nemuro fishing port where sanma catch landings reported the highest level in Japan, visited fishing fleet of 130 vessels and wholesale fish market, kept a watch on sanma auctions, heard presentation on measures of retaining freshness of fish. On the same day, the delegation visited sanma processing plant of Eihi Reizhou Co, Ltd and listened to the company’s introduction on high tech in frozen storage and fish processing.
“Nemuro is a peaceful city. After visiting the fishing port, I really impressed that wild-caught fish is well-preserved, quickly semi-processed, thus end-products to consumers retain their freshness and delicious taste. I will popularize Nemuro sanma to Vietnam customers and hope that sanma will become popular with regional and Vietnam consumers soon”, said Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, General Director of HAI NAM Co.,Ltd, VASEP Vice Chairwoman, and Chairwoman of VASEP Marine Product Committee.
Sanma is mainly caught in Pacific Ocean water of Japan with annual average production of 80,000 MT in which Nemuro city makes up 70 percent of total production of over 50,000 MT. In 2011, sanma production of the city reached 70,000 MT and in 2012, expected sanma production was 70,000 MT.
Sanma is annually caught in the period of three months from August to October. The period of mid and late September reported the highest production and the best quality of sanma.
Although there are over 130 fishing vessels, sanma stock in the Japanese water is maintained because all vessels obey their annual fishing quota. Each fishing trip goes off shore fishing and lands within 5 hours. Fish classifying, auctioning and semi-processing at plants are implemented within several hours. Fish is preserved in low temperature and ensured its freshness.
Vietnam delegation also has a meeting with 15 seafood enterprises of Nemuro city to discuss and negotiate frozen sanma exports to Vietnam. Seafood enterprises of both Vietnam and Nemuro believed that this is a good start and in the near time, sanma can become popular with Vietnam people due to delicious taste, being an easy to cook fish and reasonable price.