Japan is feeling the effect of the large Kuroshio meander.
Such a phenomenon exists due to the powerful ocean current that flows northeast alongside Japan’s Pacific coast taking a detour far out to sea at the eastern end of Shikoku Island, then looping back again farther north toward Tokyo Bay. This usually persists for a period of a few years and is often associated with increased snowfall in the Tokyo area.
Reduced catches of sardines and bonito have been partially affiliated with the meander. The schools of fish, which would normally be accessible to fishermen off Wakayama Prefecture, are instead far out to sea. The total catch of bonito tuna at major ports throughout the country through 10 July was 18,000 metric tons – down 40 percent from last year.
Another cause of the poor harvests is excessive fishing near the equator, the spawning ground for bonito. The Nikkei Shimbun reported that in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture – which has been the leading port in bonito landings for 22 consecutive years – landings were 300 metric tons, just a quarter of what they were during the same time last year.
The high price for bonito at Tokyo’s Toyosu market on 30 July – JPY 2,160 (USD 19.88, EUR 17.84) per kilogram – was unchanged from a month earlier.
At Tokyo’s Toyosu Wholesale Market on 30 July, fresh domestic bluefin sold in a wide range, from JPY 2,160 to 17,280 (USD 19.89 to 159.06, EUR 17.84 to 142.71). Imports were JPY 3,240 to 3,780 (USD 29.82 to 34.79, EUR 26.76 to 31.22). Frozen bluefin sold between JPY 2,160 and 4,860 (USD 19.88 to 44.73, EUR 17.84 to 40.15), with an average of JPY 3,033 (USD 27.92, EUR 25.06).
Frozen yellowfin tuna on 30 July sold between JPY 540 and 1,188 (USD 4.97 to 10.93, EUR 4.46 to 9.81), with an average of JPY 853 (USD 7.85, EUR 7.05).
Fresh bigeye tuna sold in the range of JPY 1,512 to 2,916 (USD 13.92 to 26.84, EUR 12.49 to 24.09). Frozen bigeye sold from JPY 680 to 2,484 (USD 6.26 to 22.86, EUR 5.62 to 20.52), with an average of JPY 1,024 (USD 9.43, EUR 8.46).
Fresh southern bluefin tuna on 30 July ranged from JPY 1,836 to 4,644 (USD 16.90 to 42.74, EUR 15.16 to 38.36), while frozen was JPY 918 to 3,780 (USD 8.45 to 34.79, EUR 7.58 to 31.22), with an average of JPY 2,025 (USD 18.64 to EUR 18.64).
Image courtesy of Chris Loew/SeafoodSource
