Ratified for two consecutive years as the most comprehensive of the Ministry of the Food Industry (MINAL) and for showing the Status of National Vanguard, the Las Tunas Fishing Company is a worthy headquarters, at the country level, for the celebrations of the Day of the Worker of the Fishing Industry.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Every day, the objective of doing more for food production marks the day of the workers of the Fishing Company (PESCATUN) of this province. A group determined to defy economic difficulties, shortages, and even nature from the sea, industry, or offices, today savor the sweet pleasure of seeing their goals fully achieved. And happy as fish in the water, they are not satisfied and they steer the prow towards increasing production because there is still more to be done.
“PESCATUN, during 2020, was the first entity nationwide to fulfill its production and sale plans; the first of them to 118 percent, with more than 2,215 tons of the 1,880 planned; and the second, with 18 million pesos,” the Master of Science Mario Sedeño Viamontes, its general director, informed.
“To reach these achievements, he explained, the Manatí fishing zone stands out in aquaculture, and in the platform business units we recognize the contribution of Guayabal, which has been the leader with almost a thousand tons of the total agreed.”
Concerning industrial productions, Sedeño Viamontes pointed out that in this calendar, and with greater emphasis in the months when the COVID-19 began, the production of approximately 1,460 tons was achieved, of the 1,111 conceived, to which new assortments are added.
Little by little but in a successful way, in each of the specialized establishments of this industry, the offers have gained in quality. The fish mince, fishballs, and the fillet are within the preference, along with others such as croquettes, hamburgers and chorizo, which have improved their presentation to the customer.
The stocking of fingerlings excels in this sector. A large part of the production of 2021 is guaranteed, because as reported by the manager, “the plan for sowing chicks was fulfilled with 15 million, three more than expected. The micro-dams of the Azcuba group, Agriculture and a dozen private producers that are now inserted in this program were planted."
The investment plan does not stop. "About 12 hectares of water bodies are recovered for the rearing and development of fingerlings, a new mini-industry will come into operation in the municipality of Colombia soon, while progress is being made in the construction of a freezing tunnel for export."
PESCATUN is entering the international market. Incorporated into the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba in the 10th Business Round, the expectations of touching the platforms of other latitudes see their results. The entity has defined 11 items with potential for sale abroad, and without losing opportunities, in 2020 more than 11 tons of fish and five kilograms of elver (eel fingerling) were marketed abroad, with a high impact on the national economy.
In dialogue with the Master of Science Adalberto Leyva Segura, Director of Fishing Operations, we learned that the role of the innovators, with local inventiveness, has greatly influenced these results. The recovery of a stuffing machine with more than 15 years in disuse and the creation of an artisan scaling machine are palpable examples.
The promotion of oysters, diversification of productions, expanding exports, and consolidating online sales are the immediate projections of PESCATUN.
Continues to be the most comprehensive MINAL company, as in these years, will not be an easy task. Convinced that it is necessary to increase exports without neglecting production for local fishmongers, PESCATUN workers will put their competitiveness and efficiency to the test.
The challenge does not intimidate the best fishing entity on the Island, which faces turbulence every day to bring fish and its derivatives from the water to the table.
