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Harvest Season of Sanriku Coho Salmon Ends

August 14, 2008

The harvesting of farmed Sanriku coho salmon at both Onagawa Market and Ishimaku Market in Miyagi Prefecture ended on August 7 and 9, 2008 respectively.


The Fisheries Cooperative Association of Miyagi reported that total catches for the Onagawa, Ishimaki, and Shizukawa markets dropped 2.9 percent to 9,176 tons with a 6.8 percent increase in value to 4.16144 billion yen from the previous year. The average unit price per kilogram jumped 10.2 percent to 454 yen (before tax) compared to a year before, showing a steady upward trend throughout the season.


The total harvest amount for early August was 372 tons, 4.5 times higher than the last year’s result. Seawaters warming up at an accelerating pace last year resulted in an extremely lower harvest volume. This year’s average unit price is 453 yen/kilo (before tax), unchanged from a year before. With the seedling amount being 14 percent higher than last year, this season’s forecasted total turnover was up 10 percent, or 15,000 tons, including untraded coho salmon; however the low seawater temperature prior to its season ended in slugging salmon growth.


With the exact figures still unknown, “Overall, we may have a total of 12,000 to 13,000 tons of catches this year,” said one of the stakeholders.


Despite a steady upward move of the average price, the planned production volume may not be reached. “We increased the seedling volume, on top of that, fish feed costs and other expenses were relentlessly rising. Except some part, we had a relatively bad season,” according to a related party.


Original article published on August 14, 2008; translated by Kiyo Hayasaka


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