March 26, 2007

Method to transport live seafood without water sparks interest

A Philippine inventor has invented a method to transport live fish without water or ice, sparking interest from investors scrambling to cash in on the technology, which could potentially save millions for seafood companies worldwide.

The inventor, Bonifacio Comandante of the Philippines, has been approached by investors from Australia and Japan seeking partnerships to market the technology through his company, Buhi International

The process involves bathing fishes in a proprietary organic substance that puts them in a state of hibernation. The fish are kept at a controlled temperature and shipped upright to ensure their gill covers remain open. The revolutionary method has been successfully tested on fish including groupers, snappers, crustaceans and mollusks.

Since the method eliminates the need for ice, it would also save 20 to 25 percent of freight costs, the company said. Going by the seafood volumes going to Hong Kong, China and Japan alone, savings would reach US$250 million, the company added.