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Ref:723/03 |
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europe
- May 11, 2003 |
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Australia’s favorite fish
arrives in Europe |
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by
Suzi Fraser
Marine Harvest introduced barramundi farmed in sea
cages as a commercial product for European markets at
the Brussels Seafood Exposition, 6–8 May 2003.
Australia’s favorite fish, the barramundi is excellent
seafood and further expands the Marine Harvest species
range.
Potential customers were able to see and taste
barramundi on the Marine Harvest stand in Brussels,
said Craig Foster, Barramundi Project Manager in
Australia, “and we know that several customers are
already keen. We have the logistics in place for daily
despatches to almost any major location in Europe. The
product range includes whole fish or portions, fresh
or frozen.
“Barramundi is a very versatile fish, equally at home
in a white-table restaurant or on a summer barbecue,
which is why the Australians like it so much. With our
unique development of effective sea-farming
techniques, Marine Harvest is now able to offer a
consistent supply into Europe. It already has
established a market for barramundi to discerning
restaurants in the US, where it was featured at the
Boston show in March this year.”
The Marine Harvest barramundi is farmed in tropical
waters on the northern coast of Australia. “The
challenges are somewhat different from those
encountered with coldwater species,” adds Craig
Foster. “Our farming team has to contend with four-metre
sharks and crocodiles, poisonous jellyfish and the
occasional cyclone.
“We have established the farm together with the Tiwi
people of Bathurst Island, 120kms north of Darwin. The
Darwin Aquaculture Centre and the Northern Territories
Government also played key roles. We harvest twice
weekly, 52 weeks a year, process locally and can
deliver in Europe within 24hrs of packing, which means
48–72hrs after harvest. All Marine Harvest barramundi
products meet the relevant Australian and European
food quality and safety requirements.
“The first harvests were in May 2002 and we now supply
to every major city in Australia. As the scale of
production increases we are able to expand our markets
and Europe offers great potential.”
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