Pacific saury landing. Photo: Stockfile

Pacific Saury Catch: 2.5 Times Higher, Reaching 3,900 Tons

JAPAN
Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 06:00 (GMT + 9)

Smaller fish and eastward movement of fishing grounds as of September 10

[Hokkaido] One month into the Pacific saury fishing season, catch levels remain robust. According to the Eastern Hokkaido Branch of the Fisheries Information Service Center (Kushiro, Hokkaido), cumulative catches as of September 10 have reached 3,929 tons, about 2.5 times higher compared to the same period last year. This marks a notable improvement compared to the drastically poor catches experienced in recent years.

Photo: cortesy NHK

This season, all boats, regardless of size, began operations on August 10, with large vessels (over 100 tons) starting earlier than in previous years, when they typically began around August 20.

In recent years, changing ocean currents and water temperatures have pushed Pacific saury farther offshore, no longer following their historical southward migration along Japan's coastline. As a result, Japanese fisheries increasingly rely on international waters beyond the country's exclusive economic zones.

Photo: cortesy NHK

Challenges on the High Seas

The high seas, now the main fishing grounds for Pacific saury, are crowded with large Chinese vessels, creating stiff competition for Japanese boats. In response to declining stocks, the North Pacific Fisheries Commission, which includes Japan, China, and other nations, agreed last March to reduce the Pacific saury fishing quota by 25% for the 2023-24 season.

"The high seas, known as 'golden fishing grounds,' are packed with Chinese vessels that target Pacific saury as well as sardines and mackerel. These Chinese boats catch saury of all sizes, putting Japanese boats at a disadvantage," explained a wholesaler from Toyosu Market.

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