From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 2, May 1999.

Putting everything on the line, “our money, my jewellery and even our lives,” was how Tricia Emberson, the Managing Director of ‘Alatini Fisheries described the commitment she and her partner, Bill Holden, had made toward the development of their company during the past ten years.

‘Alatini Fisheries was established in 1990, based at the Small Industries Centre in Nuku‘alofa, and Tricia said for seven years things just did not quite work out. At times they were six figures in the red, “our bank and our accountant gave us some very strong warnings, that we would go bankrupt if we were not going to change the way we were operating.”

Streamlining

Tricia said that after a hard look at their operation and realising that they could do better, they set out to streamline their operation. “Bill is a very good fisherman, and has been fishing in the Tongan waters for over 15 years, so he is concentrating on fishing and I am taking care of our operation on shore.”

Tricia set out to establish a professional working ethic in her factory, “to export fish, the handling and the packing is very important. The workers have to be trained. They can’t handle the fish with their bare hands, they have to wear gloves, and they have to handle the fish with utmost care. My message is that they have to handle the fish just like they are handling a baby.”

Tricia she said every morning all their vehicles are inspected to make sure that they have been washed before they can leave the packing place, and all the workers are expected to be at work on time.

In September 1998, ‘Alatini Fisheries started fishing for tuna, and Tricia now believes that to expand their operation and grow they have to have to concentrate more on fishing for tuna. “We have been doing bottom line fishing for red snapper and other bottom line fish, but the resource is limited whereas with tuna, because of their migratory nature it is plentiful.”  

Tricia said that they are exporting three tonnes a week, “one of tuna and two of bottom line fish. The Big Eye tuna goes to Tokyo, and some Big Eye and Yellow Fin tuna go to the mainland USA. Our bottom line fish is divided between Hawai‘i and the mainland.”

Tricia is proud of their unbroken record of exporting fish every week during the past ten years. “Our operation at the moment consists of fishing, and we have five boats, all 40 footers, but only one is fishing for tuna. We also have an export packing facility, an ice block making facility and a fish retailing outlet.”

Packing service

Because the packing facility is operating at only 25 per cent capacity, ‘Alatini is offering their services for outside exporters.

“What the fishing industry needs most at the moment are fishing boats. The onshore facilities for packing and for export are already in place. We have ours and there is also the Sea Star,” she said.

Tricia hoped that the banks would become a bit more lenient with their lending policy. “A 14 meter fishing boat costs about $500,000, and the bank’s policy for a loan of that amount is to be repaid within five years, which is too short.”

Tricia has a five-year plan to expand their Tuna Long Line operation and they are looking forward to bringing in a 14 meters Long Liner before the end of the year. “This will bring in 180 tonnes or $1.2 million worth of fish per annum, and if we can’t raise finance locally then we will have to look offshore. We hope to bring in four or five boats within five years.”