14:25 | Lima, Jul. 10 (ANDINA).
Peruvian company Paiche Amazone, subsidiary of the Hochschild group, signed a contract with the French company Adrien to start marketing Peruvian paiche in the most sophisticated restaurants in Europe.
This was announced by Gustavo Sakata, Paiche Amazone Operation Manager.
This white-fleshed fish from the Amazon River has been unknown so far to European consumers, according to fis.com.
"Therefore, it will be called arapaima, as it is scientifically known in Europe so that it can be recognized and distinguished from Brazilian products," said Rosario Pajuelo, Peru's trade minister in France.
Veronique Ehanno, Adrien’s spokesperson, said paiche is a rare species for Europeans because it has been considered as a protected species by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Paiche (Arapaima gigas) is considered the largest freshwater fish in the world, which can grow up to three metres and weigh 200 kilograms, the newspaper El Comercio reported.
As indicated by Sakata, in the fish farm that the company has in Yurimaguas, paiche specimens can measure up to 1.2 metres and can weigh between 10 kg and 12 kg.
The plant has an annual production capacity of 350 tonnes, Isaac Gherson, CEO of Paiche Amazone, told AFP news agency.
Even though each kilogram of paiche costs on average EUR 25, "there may be special offers considering the volume purchased that will allow the sale for a lower price as a skinless boneless fillet," explained Sakata.
"In the United States we supply four restaurants in Miami, one in Boston and La Mar restaurant, opened by Gastón Acurio in San Francisco," the businessman added.
(END) INT/EEP
Publicado: 10/7/2011