Value adding to seafood by application of modern drying techniques

Project number: 1994-123

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $86,250.83

Principal Investigator: Steve L. Slattery

Organisation: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct

Project start/end date: 16 Dec 1994 - 30 Apr 1997

Contact:

FRDC

Objectives

1. ACTo apply the heat pump drying process to seafoods

2. Produce appropriate samples of heat pump dried seafood for evaluation with the assistance of industry collaborators

3. Produce appropriate samples of heat pump dried seafood for evaluation with the assistance of industry collaborators

Final report

Author: S.L. Slattery

Final Report • 2017-09-29 • 1.72 MB

1994-123-DLD.pdf

Summary

There is an enormous market throughout the world for dried seafood, many of which command high prices. Six major markets have been identified by FAO. The Japanese market is very large and is growing slowly. Markets in Hong Kong and Spain, Germany, Italy are big and growing while that in Portugal is very big and growing fast. Except for Portugal, these countries are in the top 10 biggest importers of fisheries products.

While fresh and frozen seafood dominates world markets there is still an increasing demand for dried seafood. Although a large part of this trade is in large salted, dried fish such as cod (bacalao) and similar gadoid species which Australia could not supply, there are markets for a diversity of products which could be produced here.

This study was produced as the first milestone report and was intended to identify suitable prospects for experimentation. Both domestic and overseas markets were analysed and a number of suitable species were identified.

Project products

Report • 2017-09-29 • 5.67 MB

1994-123-Product.pdf

Summary

Australia has a relatively long coast line with a variable continental shelf. Our waters are nutrient deficient which results in lower volume catches of seafood. The potential value of the deep water fisheries is largely unknown.

If a premium price can be associated with clean unpolluted fisheries products then this could well place Australia in a more favourable position. The demand for cleaner pollution-free agricultural products could see appropriate flow-ons to Australian seafood products. With a 200km economic zone and reasonably unpolluted waters, Australian fisheries products could be in high demand. Conversely the high harvesting and freighting costs involved in the fishing industry may well inhibit this possible opportunity.