Frank Crabtree, the general manager of USA-Islands Seafood, met with Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Ignacio Dela Cruz and Saipan Fishermen Association president Gene Weaver on Thursday last week.
In an interview yesterday, Crabtree said Dela Cruz asked about the plans of the company.
Crabtree said he assured the DLNR chief that his company will help market the CNMI’s fish harvest.
Crabtree believes that there is a huge market for CNMI fish and it includes Japan, Guam Hawaii.
He said their business office and processing facility are now being constructed on Beach Road at the former Transamerica facility.
This, he added, is the first stage of their long-term investment on island.
He envisions a big fishing enterprise that involves long-line fishing, icing the fish, processing and marketing.
Crabtree said they already have two vessels and two more will be arriving from Hawaii soon.
Establishing long-line fishing business in the CNMI has been considered before but because the garment industry was still flourishing it wasn’t considered a priority.
Crabtree said they will be fishing 30 miles off shore and will not compete with local fishermen who harvest reef fish.
