Pacific saury stocks likely to remain low in Japan's fishing area
The country's saury catches fell below 20,000 tons three years ago, and recovered to about 39,000 tons last year. The figure is still nearly one-tenth of 2008 when the catches were the most in the last 20 years.
Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency released on Tuesday its estimate of Pacific saury stocks in the seas where Japanese fishing boats operate for the period between August and December.
Researchers estimate the stocks in the Pacific Ocean off the coast from Hokkaido to Chiba will be as low as the level for last year.
They said the stocks will be lower than last year until early October, but will increase afterward.
The researchers said that the percentage of large-sized saury was bigger in seas further east of Japan, and fish migration to the country's fishing ground from mid-October will result in the increase in catches.
The agency said Japan's catches of Pacific saury may continue to be low as the stocks could be decreasing due to rising sea temperatures. It added that the main fishing ground is in international waters of the North Pacific where Japanese fishing boats do not usually operate.
Senior researcher Fuji Taiki said he expects the size of a Pacific saury sold in supermarkets will be a bit bigger weighing about 20 grams more than last year.
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