Speaking from a small processor's concern we are very selective as to the
tuna trollers who deliver to us,they must have a harvest vessel log when
they deliver and the fish recieved have to be in top quality and proper
temperature or we will just refuse to buy.The cost involved to take samples
and have a lab run histamine tests would be greater than the value of the
fish, even a rapid histamine test in plant would still be a cost we would
like to avoid. We find that we have to educate the fisherman when we
deciede to take the boat on,their knowledge of histamine for the most part
doesn't exist ,they have been fishing for years and can't understand why all
the fuss now,there ,of course is always the exception. I have so far not
found an uncooperative fisherman but maybe there is some easier way for them
to document the catch and onboard handling besides a log that requires alot
of information and attention, we have to trust that they were honest in
filling out the log as they fish and we have to trust our instincts when we
see the fish off load. I would dread having to follow more regulations for
controlling histamine but if it would ensure that less fish would be
questionable by FDA and less fish mutilated than we can't complain.
Anne Espedal
Bornstein Seafoods
Astoria,Or
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Nov 11 2004 - 06:31:38 PST