TOKYO - Japan’s tuna market, the world’s largest, is taking an outsized hit from the coronavirus pandemic, pressuring restaurants and wholesalers at Tokyo’s sprawling Toyosu fish market to adapt to survive.
Demand for fresh fish, especially the so-called “king of sushi” bluefin tuna, has slumped as the pandemic wiped out orders for events. Tuna prices dropped 8.4% in July from a year earlier, far steeper than the 1.5% annual fall in overall fresh fish prices, government data showed. He has so far received about 200 orders for the 5,500 yen box, which contains two pieces of “akami” red meat tuna, and plans to start selling 8,500 yen boxes of more expensive “chutoro” medium fatty tuna later in September.
While there was a modest rebound in demand from restaurants for his fish after the state of emergency was lifted, he said big events and business from upscale dining bars, such as those in Tokyo’s Ginza area, had been slow to resume. Amano, who sells mostly high-quality fresh and frozen tuna, said he had seen 30-40% less business than usual over the past month due to low demand from major hotels and restaurants at Tokyo’s Haneda airport.
But the pandemic has hit the industry hard and Japan’s tuna imports fell 18% in the first six months of 2020 from a year earlier, finance ministry data showed. With people still wary of going out, the outlook is unlikely to change soon.
It's still Fukushima Tuna anyway.
Good! The tuna fisheries need a break from the crazed tuna harvesting.
How do you prefer your China Virus? Solid white in water or Chunk light in oil?
tuna’s all over the world are grateful:)
SchuldVanSaid
Good... these fish need a break.
Isn’t it high time we stop eating animals?
first of all. make japan stop killing whales around the world.
Congrats, Pacific Ocean dolphins!
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Source: CNBC - 🏆 12. / 72 Read more »