Aug 03 (the-japan-news.com) - Poor catches of surume-ika, or Japanese common squid (see below), are likely to continue this year. The squid is used in popular home dishes such as sashimi and is also sold in a form that is dried overnight.
According to a long-term forecast about fishing conditions by the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, arrivals of surume-ika squid to sea areas near Japan will likely be almost the same or lower compared with those in last year, when catch volumes of the squid were at a record low.
Many fisheries experts share a view that the poor catches have been affected by decreases in the number of eggs the squid lay due to the decreasing sea water temperature in the East China Sea during recent years.
As the poor catches of the squid will likely continue for three consecutive years, seafood processing companies and other related businesses are deeply worried.
The catch volumes of surume-ika squid are largest in sea areas near Japan. The peak periods of catching the squid are from summer to autumn.
According to the agency's forecasts, catch volumes in the Sea of Japan will be almost the same as those of last year. The predicted volume in the area will be lower than the average in the past five years.
