Kochi Bonito Catch Surges Fourfold as Kuroshio Current Shifts

Bonito landings in Kochi Prefecture have increased more than fourfold compared to the same period last year ^[2].

This sudden surge in fish populations significantly impacts the local economy by flooding the market with supply, which has driven down wholesale prices for one of the region's most prized seafood exports.

According to data available this Saturday, total bonito landings have reached approximately 700 tons ^[1]. This abundance has caused wholesale prices to drop by 30% to 40% ^[3].

Experts attribute the phenomenon to the end of the Kuroshio Large Meander, a periodic shift in the powerful current that flows along Japan's coast. Tatsuya Kaji, deputy technical director at the Kochi Prefecture Fisheries Experiment Station, said the water temperature remained relatively high, staying above 19 degrees Celsius even during the winter months ^[4].

Kaji said the fish that had been staying in Tosa Bay began to be caught around February, and the current abundance is the result of those fish being joined by others migrating north from the spring onward ^[4].

Local fishers and residents have reacted with enthusiasm to the abundance. One fishing port official said the situation was a massive haul, while a local resident in their 70s said they love Kochi's bonito because it is delicious [5, 6].

Fishing for the season began in late February and has continued to accelerate through May ^[7]. The influx of fish into Tosa Bay creates a temporary windfall for those harvesting the fish, though the price drop creates a challenging environment for wholesalers and distributors.