From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.

Tricia Emberson the CEO of Tonga’s largest fish exporter, ‘Alatini Fisheries Ltd., who has been operating in Tongan waters for the last 14 years, is a hard core survivor of an industry that has had to ride out the waves of unfavourable weather conditions and export cargo surcharges over the last two years.

Tricia, who sends 25 tons of fish by Air New Zealand from Tonga to the United States every month, is now looking to sell more fish in the local market and in New Zealand, because the cost of exporting to the US has increased so much since the September 11 attacks. Up until September 11, ‘Alatini was sending 75 per cent of their catch to the United States.

Air cargo

“We now have to pay increased insurance as well as terrorist surcharges and war surcharges on cargo. It’s just ridiculous. Now, on top of all that, from 12 December this year we have to register our company with the USFDA under their Bio-Terrorism Act 2002 or we will not be able to export food products to the US,” she said.

Because there was a slump in the US economy it was not possible to increase the price.

“We have put  more boats, but the cost of getting fish to the market has increased and prices have not increased so there is little incentive to export to the US any more.

“However, the New Zealand dollar is very strong at the moment so we are actively looking at marketing there and also in Australia, targeting the Asian and Polynesian communities. We recognise that there is a huge consumer market over there and we now have the advantage that their currency has strengthened so we could place fish at good prices in a market where our fish are recognisable to people,” said Tricia.

‘Alatini Fisheries has 12 boats doing two types of fishing, snapper drop-line and tuna long-line. Tricia, and her business partner Bill Holden, own seven of the boats, while five are a co-venture operation with  a Chinese company, Fujian Wanxiang Fish Co.
The last 18 months, when a combination of El Nino weather factors and over-fishing, has forced several local fishing operators close or to move on, have also not been easy for ‘Alatini Fisheries. The company employs 150 people, with bases in Tongatapu and Vava‘u.

“We are maintaining the same level of exports, but with an increased number of boats operating, and increased costs,” said Tricia.

She views the now frequent air connections to New Zealand as an opportunity to change her exports to that direction. “We would be able to supply small volumes on a frequent basis.”

Tongan export quality fish are around 18-20kg weight each and are packaged in ‘Alatini’s high standard packing facility, four to a box and palleted for air cargo.

Tricia at the moment says they are at about 40% capacity. “There are not enough fish being caught but we hope that will turn around. Two years ago the fisheries were the biggest employer of people here, when it’s good it is very labour intensive. Those were the days when we were making more money than we knew what to do with,” she said.

‘Alatini represents a US $5 million investment in developing the Tongan fishing industry, said Tricia, who said it was unfortunate that there were no soft loan facilities to help the industry through the troughs, as there had been for the squash producers.