SESSF Industry Development Subprogram: adding value to an under utilised fish species (silver warehou)

Funded Activity Summary

There is little opportunity for fishers in the SESSF to increase profitability. All major species have been allocated quotas, and there is little scope to increasing quotas with all species fully exploited or overfished. While much research has focused on the collection of biological data, assessment of the status of fish stocks and the impact of fishing on the environment (Knuckey 2004) there is a need to investigate value adding to species currently captured by the fishery.

Silver warehou is one of the most promising low-value species to trial for value adding. At present there is little demand from the consumer public with its off white colour when filleted, large catches of it are landed during winter months depressing the price. Many hundreds of tonnes of this species is currently discarded at sea due to lack of markets.

The cost of establishing new markets for both the flathead and school whiting were considerable and borne solely by Consolfish, though all fishers benefited from the higher prices. The products were so successful that Consolfish can no longer afford to process small to medium flathead as the high price at the wharf makes it unviable.

Silver warehou is a relatively unfamilar fish to oversees processors. This project is needed to develop a consumer friendly product and then organise the processing techniques, further training and production planning. The Thai processors have indicated they are keen to process the fish and the Woolworth supermarket chain have indicated they will be willing to stock it on a trial basis. Promotion of the product will be required and will be undertaken at Consolfish expense.






Objectives:
1. Conduct research to confirm appropriate markets for this seafood product
2. Develop a new seafood product from silver warehou that will appeal to the consumer and is competitively priced to similar imported products
3. Adapt equipment to process silver warehou into suitable products
4. Establish training program for processing staff to ensure product QA
5. Desribe how the process applied to silver warehou can be adapted to other low-value species

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 31-07-2007

End Date: 31-05-2009

Funding Scheme: Funding Scheme not available

Funding Amount: $53,800.00

Funder: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

There are no FoR codes available for this funding activity

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Consumer | Market opportunities | Marketing | Non Market Values | Profitability | Promotion | Stock Assessment | Value Add

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