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A weakened yen has made Japan less competitive on the international market
and made shrimp prices higher in Japan. The yen and Japan's economy may
continue at this weak pace in the immediate future.
According to Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
236,000 tonnes of fish was landed at 42 of the country's most important
ports in May of 1998. This was a 6% drop from the same period last year,
and 6% above April's landings. The average price fell by 11% from that of
April and 15% from last year's figure, reaching 134 yen per kilo.
Jack mackerel landings amounted to 42,300 tonnes - a 60% increase on
the previous month - reaching a total of 100,000 tonnes during the
first five months of 1998.
Skipjack catches increased by 20%, while landings of squid, mackerel
and sardine fell by 60%, 50% and 25%, respectively - the lowest figures
in the last three years. |
Bivalves
Bivalve production comprises a significant component of Japanese aquaculture
in both value and weight. In 1990, 260 thousand metric tons of oyster (in
the shell) and 18 thousand metric tons of scallop were produced by Japanese
aquaculture. Genetic research programs such as selective cross breeding
and chromosome manipulation are being conducted in pearl oyster, edible
oyster, noble scallops, ark shell and cockle. (Dr. Katsuhiko
Wada, 9/,93)
Salmon
Total production of silver salmon on farms in northeastern Honshu was about
9,000 tons in 1998., almost 12% below the level of last season. Production
during the beginning of August totaled 690 tonnes with an average price
to the farmer of 475 yen/kg. This was 36% below the production volume during
the same ten day period of last year. Prices this season were 6.5% higher
than at this time last year. However, cumulative average prices this season,
465 yen/kg, are a small fraction lower than they were last year (467 yen/kg).Bill Court 8/14/98
Shrimp
Household purchases of shrimp in Japan have been falling for the past three
years. Shrimp purchases during the first six months of 1998 decreased
by 8.9% as compared with the first six months of 1997. During the first
six months of 1997 purchases had fallen by 4.6% and during the first six
months of 1996 had fallen 5.8% compared with the same period of the previous
year. On an annual basis there has been a decline in house purchases of
shrimp of about 4.6% to 5.8% per year since 1992.Bill
Court 8/13/98
Bottomfish
Supplies of bottomfish are short in Japan and prices are rising. Prices
for Pacific cod, halibut, Greenland turbot and redfish have been high and
continue to increase. In many cases prices of cod, redfish and other
species are so high that market sources expect consumption to decrease.
Catches have been poor for Japanese boats in Russian waters and imports
from other areas are low because of poor catches and strong demand from
Europe and the US. The shortage of bottomfish in these markets plus the
weakness of the yen make it very difficult for Japan to compete in buying
bottomfish on the international market.Bill Court 8/17/98
Crab
Hair crab landings in Japan are down this year but prices are lower despite
the decrease in supply. The two major crab fishing areas report decreases
both in catches and in the unit value of the crab landed. The northern tip
of Hokkaido, the Soya area, reports 816 tonnes landed, 14% less than last
season. The average value of this hair crab was 2,349 yen/kg, 11% below
that of last season. To the southeast in the Abashiri area on the eastern
part of Hokkaido's Sea of Okhotsk coast 744 tonnes had been landed through
the end of July. This was 15% less than last season's landings. The prices
were 16% less than last season and well below the prices in Soya. The average
price in Abashiri was 2,217 yen/kg.
June imports of frozen snow crab from Russia totaled 2,410 tonnes, 18%
below the level of last June 1997. Imports of both live and frozen king
crab into Japan from Russia have been decreasing, but this trend may be
reversed by the devaluation of the rouble on the 17th of August, 1998. |