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

2. 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)

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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Conclusion: