Japan's Pacific Saury Catch Forecast To Fall Below Last Year's Levels
Aug 03, 2026
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According to SeafoodMedia, Japan's Fisheries Agency projects that the Pacific saury catch from August to December will fall short of last year's levels. The fish are expected to be smaller in size, and fishing grounds will initially be concentrated in international waters far from Japan's coast. Researchers conducted scientific fishing operations at 93 stations across the North Pacific between May and July 2026. A total of 41,578 Pacific saury specimens were caught during this survey, compared to 51,608 specimens across 136 stations in the previous survey.
The Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency estimates the biomass of Pacific saury in two zones west of 180° longitude-considered the most valuable indicators for forecasting the Japanese fishing season's catch-at approximately 429,000 tonnes; this represents a decline of about 61% from the 1.099 million tonnes estimated in 2025. The agency projects that most Pacific saury caught in August and September will weigh between 90 and 109 grams. From October onwards, as the fish have more time to grow, the predominant weight range is expected to increase to approximately 110–139 grams. If these forecasts prove accurate, reduced supplies will once again limit the availability of fresh Pacific saury in the Japanese market and constrain the supply of raw materials for freezing and processing; the ultimate impact on prices will depend on actual catch volumes, demand, frozen inventory levels, and imports.