Image: Suisan-Keizai/FIS

Final production of Mutsu Bay scallops is 72,000 tons, falling below the previous year for the third consecutive year

JAPAN
Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 07:00 (GMT + 9)

According to the JF Aomori Fishing Federation, the catch of scallops from Mutsu Bay in fiscal 2022 (April 2022 to March 2023) was down 1% from the previous year to 72,734 tons.

As the average unit price (excluding tax) increased by 12% to 193 yen per kilogram, the landed amount increased by 12% to 14.1 billion yen. Including tax, it reached 15.2 billion yen, surpassing 15 billion yen for the first time in five years since fiscal 2017.

Although the volume decreased slightly, it fell below the previous year for the third consecutive year. Compared to the average of the past 10 years (77,981 tons), it is a decrease of 7%. Due to the slump in seedling collection last year, the production is expected to decrease in 2023, and the severe situation will continue.

In fiscal 2022, semi-mature clams, the main product, increased by 4% to 56,093 tons because "there were more resources than initially expected," according to a local official, but new clams decreased by 3% to 10,047 tons, adult mussels decreased by 24% to 6,091 tons. Among mature shellfish, cages decreased by 21%, mimizuri decreased by 27%, and ground clams increased by 64%. Juvenile clams decreased by 38% to 503 tons.

Source: Suissan Keizai (translated from original in japanese)

Print