Whale meat in Japan like chopped liver when compared with fresh bluefin tuna

Proof that Japan prefers fresh fish to whale meat (reference is to a previous post): Two sushi bar owners on Monday paid more than $104,700 at a Tokyo auction for a single bluefin tuna.

Granted, the tuna weighed 282 pounds, but that's a lot of yen (9.63 million) to shell out for one premium fish. In fact, it's the most at the Tsukiji market since 2001, when a much larger Japanese bluefin fetched 20 million yen.

The recent catch went to a Hong Kong sushi bar owner and a Japanese competitor, who agreed to share a type of tuna prized for its fatty meat and buttery texture.

A slightly bigger bluefin caught off the the East Coast of the United States fetched only $15,400 at the same auction. That's because the Japanese prefer domestic tuna, of which there's a shortage.

Japan also raises tuna in pens off Ensenada. The pens are visible to motorists along Baja California's main highway.

--Pete Thomas

Photo: These bluefin tuna were pen-raised off Ensenada but delivered to Japan and sold at auction. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Clayton Loudon]

Tuna Tacos - more costly than ever!

[John LoGioco]

although demand is soaring, the bluefin is in deep trouble. aquaculture has a future but pre-breeding bluefin cannot be taken from the wild and put in cages as a solution. the people need to speak up on this issue like we did when dolphins we're being trapped in the nets. those who want to help raise awareness of this issue can join a free social network called http://www.savethebluefin.com/. every voice counts as policy makers need to hear from the people that losing one of the ocean's most glorious fish is not an option on our watch.

[Fish]

Dammit, I haven't caught a Bluefin yet.

[quizzy]

Are you sure you got the dollar amount right? In Japanese, unit "man" is equivalent to 10,000, not 100,000. About a month ago, a 700lb bluefin caught in the Sea of Japan sold for 2,049,600 yen or about $22,000.