Japan's fishing firms boosting frozen yellowfin sales to households

Fishing companies and cooperatives are hoping to expand sales of frozen yellowtail products mainly targeting households in foreign countries as demand from Japanese restaurants abroad plummeting.

Those in the fishing industry lamented that the pandemic has reduced exports, causing them to pile up yellowfin tuna that led to a sharp decline in prices.

An official at Hyoshoku Co., a Tsukumi, Oita Prefecture-based fishing company, said they need to invest in facilities so they can expand the shipment of frozen products.

He added that the Hyoshoku Co, which mainly exports fresh fish, would be able to ship more products if consumption of yellowtail grows in overseas households.

Azuma-Cho Fishery Cooperative in Kagoshima Prefecture now exports yellowtail to around 30 countries and territories after it introduced a traceability system.

Meanwhile, Ehime Prefectural Fisheries Cooperative developed a yellowtail brand that it ships to the US, South Korea, and other markets.

Yellowtail tuna ranked seventh in 2019 in terms of value among Japan's agriculture and fisheries exports.

The fish accounted for $216 million in exports in 2019, jumping 45.4 percent from the previous year, and over four times from the $52 million.