At Tokyo’s Toyosu market this week, fresh domestic bluefin sold in a wide range, from JPY 3,240 (USD 28.68, EUR 18.16) up to JPY 16,760 (USD 148.35, EUR 130.10) for top product from Aomori Prefecture, while imported tuna sold from JPY 2,378 to 5,400 (USD 21.05 to 47.80, EUR 18.40 to 41.92). Frozen bluefin ranged from JPY 2,160 to 5,400 (USD 19.12 to USD 47.80).
Aomori is famous in Japan as the source of the highest-grade, largest and fattiest bluefin tuna. The area where the strong, cold currents coming through the Tsugaru Straight meet the Pacific Ocean is home to many squid and saury, which the bluefin feed on. Vessels from the port of Oma in the prefecture use the pole and line method to land the fish live and in top condition.
The Japanese government has introduced a quota system this year for Pacific bluefin tuna over 30 kilograms. Previously, a quota was only applied for juvenile bluefin tuna (under 30 kilograms). The total allowable catch for Pacific bluefin in Japanese coastal waters for the nine-month period of July through March is 4,627 metric tons (MT) and the portion of that for large bluefin is 1,105 MT. Aomori Prefecture was allocated the largest portion – 401 MT.
On 20 November, the Fisheries Agency allocated the prefecture 461 MT, a 15 percent increase, for the 2019 fiscal year (April through March 2019 – a longer period than the previous quota term). Again, the prefecture will get the lion’s share of the national quota for large bluefin. For smaller fish, Aomori is second after Nagasaki.
The total quota for both the offshore and coastal fisheries will be 8,889 MT, with 3,757 MT for juveniles and 5,132 MT for larger fish. Of this, the coastal fishery will be allowed to land 1,571 MT of large bluefin and 1,881 MT of juveniles; and the offshore fishery will get 3,435 MT of large bluefin and 1,606 MT of juveniles.
As for prices of other tuna species, imported and domestic frozen southern bluefin tuna sold at Toyosu at an average price of JPY 1,836 (USD 16.26, EUR 14.25). Fresh bigeye tuna ranged from JPY 1,080 to 5,076 (USD 9.56 to 44.94, EUR 8.38 to 39.40). Imported frozen averaged JPY 1,140 (USD 10.09, EUR 8.85). Fresh yellowfin tuna sold at JPY 3,478 (USD 30.79, EUR 27.00).
