MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Northeast Brazil to become “tuna hub” with support from Japan

The goal is an annual catch of 8.000 tons of tuna

Japan will help Brazil develop a “tuna hub” at the north of the country with the purpose of doubling tuna catches. State of the art Japanese equipment together with Brazilian personnel specially trained to operate the new logistics are at the heart of the ambitious project which plans to turn the north-eastern impoverished state of Rio Grande do Norte into a tuna hub covering an extensive zone of the Atlantic.

The Brazil/Japan Tuna Project, with the participation of the Atlantic Tuna company is expected to create over 2,000 new jobs, directly and indirectly through the operation of 16 Japanese vessels in Brazilian waters.

The annual expected catch is of 8,000 tons of tuna with an approximate value of 68 million US dollars. Most of the produce will be will be marketed in Japan and the United States.

The fully equipped Japanese tuna vessels will arrive with their own crews and will collaborate in the training of 380 Brazilian staff with the help from the country’s National Industrial Apprenticeship Service (Senai) and the Federation of Industries from Rio Grande do Norte (Fiern), reports Tribuna do Norte.

According to Fiern president Flávio Azevedo federal and local authorities will be ensuring the necessary infrastructure for such a project. “Natal will be the next area for the largest producers of tuna: the fishing terminal will soon be ready and São Gonçalo Airport, from where the produce will be flown directly to markets, will begin operating soon.”

The president also explained that Brazilian legislation was made more flexible in order to develop this project, particularly the law which states that that foreign companies wishing to operate in Brazil need to employ at least two thirds of their staff from the local area.

However since, “Brazilians are unable to operate the Japanese modern tuna vessels, as there are no such vessels in the country, this specific law has been was relaxed to make the project viable and a boost for Rio Grande do Norte”, said Azevedo. (FIS)