Japan's Pacific Saury Fishing Season Has Begun, With The First Catch Six Times Larger Than Last Year's.

The 2025 Pacific saury fishing and purse seine season officially opened on August 10th, and Japanese fishermen enjoyed an unexpectedly strong start. From August 15th to 16th, ports in eastern Hokkaido received their first catch, totaling nearly 1,000 tons, significantly exceeding the same period last year and injecting a glimmer of hope into the fishing industry, which has been struggling for years.

At Hanasaki Port in Nemuro City, nine fishing vessels brought in 173 tons of saury on the 15th, 2.6 times the first haul of 2024. Fishermen commented, "It's better than last year, and the fish are of decent size." Subsequently, from the 16th to the 17th, 34 large vessels and 13 small boats brought in nearly 800 tons from Hanasaki and Akkeshi Ports, bringing the two-day total to approximately six times the same period last year.

Not only are the numbers impressive, but the quality of the fish is also encouraging. The average weight of the first batch of saury ranged from 130 to 140 grams, generally larger than the previous season's average. This drove market prices sharply higher, reaching as high as 3,132 yen per kilogram, more than four times last year's, creating a busy port.

However, industry experts remain cautious. The Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) noted that while the fish are slightly larger this year, the overall migration remains low, comparable to last year's level. In recent years, saury stocks have been declining, attributed to factors such as climate warming, shifting ocean currents, and overfishing on the high seas.

To address these challenges, Japan has also made adjustments to its regulations: previously, it phased in the release of fishing restrictions for vessels of different tonnages, but this year, it is allowing both large and small vessels to fish simultaneously, maximizing the operating window. Industry insiders believe this flexible strategy may become the new normal, but given the ongoing decline in resources, it remains uncertain whether the initial bumper harvest can be sustained.