Source: Port Lincoln Times
Trial selling of this season’s southern bluefin tuna will begin in the lead-up to Japan’s Golden Week at the end of the month.
The annual holiday period for Japan is the country’s third largest holiday, and produce from Australia was in demand last year because of the devastating tsunami that hit the region in the weeks before Golden Week.
Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association chief executive officer Brian Jeffriess said the volume of tuna going overseas for the festival for this year’s Golden Week will be less than last year.
“The volume will not be as significant as 2011 when there was a big shortage of tunas because of the tsunami,†he said.
Mr. Jeffriess said the fresh shipments of tuna in April and May are expected to be smaller than previous years, but the frozen harvest is expected to start earlier for producers.
“Harvesting for the super frozen market is likely to begin in June, earlier than most years,†he said.
“This is because of the strength of demand for Australian southern bluefin tuna in Japan.â€