RD Tuna expects to increase production

MADANG’S RD Tuna Canners is expected to increase its production by 20 tonnes next year.
Company vice-president Erwin Ortiz this week said it was producing 130 tonnes and would increase to 150 tonnes.
RD Tuna Canners own 12 fishing boats and seven fish carriers.
Since starting operations in 1996, RD Tuna has employed more than 3000 factory workers.
The tuna is processed, canned and labelled within the factory located along the North Coast Road of Madang.
The company imports its canning sheets from Indonesia and labelling papers from Japan and Korea.
Two challenges faced by the company, as Ortiz pointed out, were the increase in fuel prices for their fishing vessels and the vessel-day scheme (VDS) when they enter other countries’ territories.
Ortiz said they were charged up to K40,000 a day to fish in waters outside Papua New Guinea.
“The fees depend on the amount we bid and it’s a secret thing,” he said.
National Fisheries Authority has strict regulations forbidding the company from fishing in the archipelago from July to October to allow tuna to restock.
Between those times, the company fishes outside Papua New Guinea’s Exclusive Economic Zone, targeting big eye tuna, yellow fin and skip jack.