Rising Pacific Saury Prices Due to Decreasing Catch Rates in Japan
In the North Pacific region, the fishing industry has witnessed a significant change in recent years, with the landed volume of Pacific saury falling below 50,000 tons since 2019. This is the first time since quotas were set in 1997 that the figure has dropped so low, according to data from the National Saury Fishery Association and the Fisheries Agency, FY 2024.
The decreasing Pacific saury catches are thought to be due to changes in the ocean environment, overfishing, and the presence of foreign fishing fleets. The fishing grounds for Pacific saury have shifted toward international waters to the far east of Hokkaido, making it difficult for Japanese fishing fleets to reach. This has been particularly challenging for ports like Kushiro, Miyako, Onahama, and Chōshi, which recorded landings of less than 100 tons in 2024.
Notably, Taiwan, a significant exporter in the North Pacific region, caught the largest amount of Pacific saury in 2023. China came in second place, while Japan ranked third. It's worth mentioning that Taiwan's Pacific saury catch is mainly landed frozen, and a high proportion of it is predominantly exported to South Korea, Japan, and China.
In contrast, Russia's Pacific saury catches have significantly decreased due to the fishing grounds shifting beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone into international waters.
The price of Pacific saury has seen a significant increase in recent years. Between 2015 and 2018, the landed volume decreased to around 100,000 tons. Despite this, the landing price for Pacific saury soared to around ¥6,000 per 10 kilograms in 2021 and 2022, compared to a previous price of roughly ¥1,000.
In response to the declining Pacific saury population, the Japanese Fisheries Agency has taken action. Following an agreement with the North Pacific Fisheries Commission, the 2025 Pacific saury quota was cut by 10% from the previous year, to 95,623 tons.
Despite the challenges, Japan achieved the largest catch of Sanma in the North Pacific marketed in Japan, and the largest amount of frozen Sanma was landed in Japan in 2023. The industry continues to adapt and innovate, striving to maintain a sustainable and profitable fishing sector in the North Pacific.
[Image from Pixta]
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