Tuna by-products for human food in the Pacific Tim Pickering SPC SPC/IFREMER Seminar on fish waste utilization June 11th 2012, Nouméa, NC

Definitions: If tuna parts are being used for human food, then it is not a “waste” The likelihood of making alternative products from tuna by-products decrease if they are being used for human food One of three strategies to provide fish for food security is to have more of the oceanic fisheries catch landed and consumed domestically (Fisheries and CC Workshop)

Regional example: Fiji Tuna heads and skeletons are sold in Suva supermarkets for human food

Fiji tuna heads There is meat inside it, and it is cheap (FJD 2.50) But there are cold-chain issues that need to be addressed

Fish dust (saw meat) Even the fish dust can be sold for $1.00, as pet food

Solomon Islands - soltfish Reject tuna that is too low grade for export processing is sold in markets locally as “soltfish” These ones were SBD 40 or about SBD 8 per kg

Soltfish The quantity of solt fish in Honiara recently was 4x the quantity of fresh fish There are health issues – not fresh, and high in salt

Conclusion Tuna by-products already make a contribution toward food security in the Pacific Interventions are needed to ensure that the by-product intended for human food is treated as a PRODUCT

Conclusion: