Frabelle boosts fleet for tuna fishing

MANILA, Philippines —  Global fishing firm Frabelle Fishing Corp. (Frabelle) of the Tiu Laurel family hiked its annual tuna fish catch capacity by 8,000 metric tons (MT) after procuring a new ship to boost its capacities in the Western Pacific Ocean.

The new ship, a tuna purse seiner called Red Robin 88, would allow Frabelle to increase its production for both the domestic and export markets.

“The deployment of Philippine-flagged Red Robin 88 in the Western Pacific is expected to increase Frabelle Fishing’s annual tuna catch by at least 8,000 MT, most of which will be delivered to canneries in General Santos City,” Frabelle Fishing president Floyd Tiu Laurel said yesterday.

The increase in the company’s fish catch capacity, he said, bodes well with the growth of the country’s domestic tuna processing industry. “Increasing our tuna deliveries to the Philippines is our contribution to the growth of tuna processing, an industry that has helped fuel our company’s growth.”

With a crew of 30 seafarers, Red Robin 88 will deliver its catch to canneries in the Philippines as well as to Frabelle Fishing’s own processing facility in Papua New Guinea, according to the firm.

This new addition expands Frabelle Fishing’s tuna purse seiner fleet to 14 vessels positioned in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.

Frabelle Fishing noted that the global market for canned tuna is continuously growing, providing an opportunity for local canneries to expand operations.

“The introduction of Red Robin 88 aligns with the Philippine government’s push to enhance food security, increase fishery exports, and attract investments in the industry to generate more jobs and boost economic growth,” the firm said.

Citing an international market research consulting company, the firm said the world market size for canned tuna stood at $8.9 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to $13.8 billion by 2032.

“We’re hopeful that the government will provide additional incentives to further drive expansion and growth of the tuna canning industry,” Tiu laurel said, adding that the firm remains keen on expanding further its current fleet.

Established in 1966, Frabelle Fishing is the flagship company of the Frabelle Group, known for its diverse interests including deep-sea fishing, aquaculture, canning, food manufacturing and processing, among others.