The “super freeze†or “ultra freeze†freezing tunnel systems recently installed by the Spanish company Frigorificos Almadraba de Barbate S.L. (Frialba) in the Port of Barbate are now operational, and working at full blast.
Last week, the first dozens of bluefin tuna were frozen at minus 60 degrees Celsius at Frialba’s new installations. Until now, the fresh tuna catch was loaded directly into the storage rooms of the Asian vessels. However now, with the new freezing systems, the tuna can remain stored at the installations until they are sold –directly without dealers- depending on the markets’ demand, which most probably be the Japanese market.
According to the Almadrabas Fishery manager, Mr. Jose Diego Ramirez, the load will be dispatched to
In the meantime, Korean and Spanish workers of the freezing tunnels are cutting the rest of the tuna. The Friaba installations count on 30 employees, whose job is to select and place the cuts of tuna in the freezing rooms. This process allows to ultra freeze the tuna within just a few hours, first to minus 30 degrees Celsius and hours later to minus 60 degrees. This rapid process also improves the conservation of the color, quality and taste of the tuna.