A Spanish corporation is building 10 tuna Bluefin farms in Panamá. The project is promoted by the Duty Free Zone of Barú (DFZ Barú). Recently, the first tuna cage, within the project was installed in Charco Azul Bay, located in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama. Also a seafood processing plant will be installed at a later stage.
The investment for the initial phase of the project will be of 14 million dollars, said Max Castrellón, general manager of the DFZ Barú. Both phases of the tuna venture will be completed within 10 months, according to the Spanish investors. The project will generate 600 jobs, 80% of which will be carried out by women. The employment will have a positive impact on the area’s basic service sectors such as transport, hotels, foodstuff and commerce in general.
At a later stage, the tuna canning plant will be installed, which will process product for export to different international markets.
DFZ Barú’s spokesman said that the Panamanian area of Charco Azul was chosen because of the sea’s depth and the distinctiveness of its marine fauna. He also stated that the cages will be taken 200 miles into high seas, where a tuna vessel will be located. Boats will capture the Bluefin tuna and deposit the fish in each cage and will then transport them to the 88 hectares of designated waters.
The Spanish technician in charge of the tuna farm structure, David Rodriguez Martinez, explained that the cages have a diameter of 50 meters, with a resistant polyethylene structure, resistant to high waves and will each have a capacity to contain 200 tons of tuna.