Catch handling evaluation of longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol) by sensory evaluation and gap assessment in Pekalongan Archipelagic Fishing Port

Abstract

As perishable food, fish require a proper handling from on-boarding, unloading, marketing and processing. This handling is closely related to the effect of fish product consumption on public health, such as seafood allergy by consuming degraded longtail tuna. This species is one of the dominant catches that landed at Pekalongan Archipelagic Fishing Port. This research aimed to evaluate longtail tuna handling to ensure the standard of quality assurance and safety of fisheries products. The fish quality was scored by scale of 1 – 9. Data were collected by sensory evaluation of fish quality during unloading process. The gap was assessed by comparing the actual process and the regulation in Minister of Marine Affairs Fisheries Decision – KEPMEN KP No. 52A/2013. The result showed that the quality of longtail tuna landed in Pekalongan AFP was acceptable by 7.85. The suitability to the handling standard was poor by 64.30%. The conclusion from sensory evaluation, the quality of longtail tuna landed at Pekalongan AFP is still in compliance with the quality of Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 2729:2013, but the level of suitability of handling longtail tuna has not complied with the regulation in Decision of Minister Marine Affairs Fisheries (MMAF) – KEPMEN KP No. 52A/2013.