Around this time every year we see huge bluefin tuna auctioned off to the highest bidder in Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market, and every year they set a new record (no doubt due to overfishing). This year the bar has been set at $1.7 million dollars, that’s more than 4 times the record from last year by the way. And the tuna sold is nearly 50 kilograms lighter than last years!
Even the buyer, sushi chain owner Kiyoshi Kimura, who also paid out the record price last year, said the cost was “a bit high”.
This year’s record-breaking fish was caught off north-eastern Japan and weighed in at 222kg (489lbs), some 47kg lighter than last year’s prize-winner, which fetched 56m yen.
The prices do not necessarily reflect quality or size and are more linked to publicity and setting the tone for the business year.
He said he wanted to “encourage Japan” with his bid.
The price works out at about $7,600 per kg ($3,500/lb).
Japan consumes more than half of the world’s bluefin catch.
via BBC.co.uk
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