The first Pacific saury of the season from Nemuro were auctioned in Sapporo on Saturday, fetching 25,000 yen per kilogram [1].
The pricing of the first catch serves as a symbolic indicator for the season's market trends and the overall health of the fish population. Lower opening prices often reflect changes in the quality or size of the available stock.
Approximately 20 kilograms of saury were brought in via stick-net fishing in Nemuro [1]. The winning bid of 25,000 yen per kilogram [1] breaks down to roughly 3,750 yen per fish [1]. This represents a significant decrease from the previous year, when the highest bid reached 88,888 yen per kilogram [1].
Industry observers said that the fish were smaller this year, which shifted the balance of supply and demand and led to the relatively lower prices [1]. The auction took place at a seafood company's venue within Sapporo.
Kota Nakazawa, a managing director at Odate Suisan, who won the bid, expressed a desire for the fish to be accessible to the public. "At around 25,000 yen, it is still acceptable; I want to provide it cheaply to general consumers and have many people eat it," Nakazawa said [1].
Stick-net fishing for the species is expected to continue through the end of November [1].
“The first Pacific saury of the season from Nemuro were auctioned in Sapporo on Saturday, fetching 25,000 yen per kilogram.”
The drop in the opening auction price from 88,888 yen to 25,000 yen per kilogram suggests a decline in the premium quality of the initial catch. Because the price is heavily influenced by the physical size of the fish, this season's start indicates a potential trend of smaller saury, which may impact retail pricing and consumer demand throughout the autumn fishing window.
