In order to secure the Taiwan Tilapia market in Korea, the Fisheries Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan guide and assist the Taiwan Tilapia Alliance to hold a press conference in Korea to promote Taiwan Tilapia in the Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo. The press conference was held in Seoul, Korea on 20th November 2013. The Chairman of Taiwan Tilapia Alliance, Chun-hsiung Tsai, indicated that the Taiwan Tilapia is farmed in excellent environment and produced in strict process, which is a high quality product with the characteristics of inexpensive, hygienic and safe, in conformity with the international regulations and requirements such as HACCP, EU food hygiene regulations and ASC. Therefore, it is suitable to be consumed in the form of sashimi. In the press conference, the Taiwan Tilapia Alliance also introduced the production process of high quality Taiwan Tilapia and showed a film and handbill that introduce the industry of Taiwan Tilapia. At the scene, they also displayed a sashimi-grade Taiwan Tilapia with the weight over two (2) kilograms, as well as introduced the consumption patterns in Taiwan and types of production exported to the European Union and United States, which are well received by the press at scene.
The press conference was attended by more than fifteen (15) Korean media (such as the CHOSUNILBO) and international media (such as Daily Economic, Asia Today, the Korea Herald, and KBC News), and many Korea import agents also attended the press conference to express their support. The total participants were about sixty (60) people. The representative of Fisheries Agency of Taiwan, Tsu-Chan Miu, was interviewed by journalist for the Korea Herald after the press conference. Miu explained that the aquaculture of Taiwan Tilapia is under high-grade management and proclaimed that Korean consumers can eat it with confidence. With the collaborative efforts of Taiwanese industry and government, the quality of Taiwan Tilapia had been recognized by the participants and the press conference was held successfully. From 21st to 23rd November 2013, the Taiwan Tilapia Alliance will take part in the Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo, to continue promote the high-grade Taiwan Tilapia to Korean consumers so as to resume the Korean market and to stabilize the production and sales of Taiwan Tilapia in Taiwan.
Industry groups and government sectors working together to expand the Korean market
The Fisheries Agency of Taiwan indicated that the Korean TV station Channel A had reported Taiwan Tilapia industry in partial and wrongful manner. With careful consideration, the Fisheries Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan Tilapia Alliance had made a strong protect, through the Taipei Mission in Korea, with scientific based evidence to the TV station. The TV station has promised to clarify this issue by captions or voice-over with the following contents: “By our understanding, the algae-covered ponds that appeared on the programme were disused facilities and that the water quality in Taiwan’s tilapia fish farms is meeting with international standards.”Such clarifying texts have been posted on its official website on 15th November 2013. After the TV station made the clarification, the Taiwanese industry and government had reached consensus to enhance promotion in Korea as soon as possible so as to secure the Korean market.
Industry innovation and upgrade to expand international markets
Finally, the Fisheries Agency indicated that Taiwan Tilapia is an important aquaculture industry in Taiwan, with the annual production of almost seventy thousand metric tons. Except for domestic consumption, it is exported to international markets such as the European Union, the United States, Japan and Korea, in the form of whole frozen fish or fillet, and earns foreign exchange with almost 2.5 billion New Taiwan Dollars.
In recent years, the technology of biological engineering has been well developed. In addition to being consumed as high quality protein resources, the fish skins of Taiwan Tilapia can be used to make leather; the fish scales of Taiwan Tilapia can be used to make artificial cornea; the pectoral and caudal fin of Taiwan Tilapia can be used to replace shark fin. Such development on multi-utilization not only can cease the concerns on marine environmental protection, but also can raise the added value significantly. In the various forms of Taiwan Tilapia production, the fillet is preferred by consumers in the United States, Japan, Korea and the European Union for its big size and high quality. In the future, the Fisheries Agency of Taiwan will continue to guide and assist the industry to develop with delicacy and quality and to promote safety and certified products in the international markets.
Contact person: Tzu-Yaw Tsay, Deputy Director-General
Phone: 0935740249
E-MAIL：tzuyaw@ms1.fa.gov.tw
Data Source from Fisheries Agency, Council of Agriculture.