Coronavirus adds to Japan’s tuna industry woes

Ferghal McTaggart eats at a sushi restaurant in Tokyo normally at least once a week, but since the coronavirus pandemic he's not dined out in several months., An English teacher, he cooks at home with his wife and children after holding classes online., "The sushi shops are still doing takeaway," he said, "but we've only ordered in on a couple of occasions." Spotlight The global outbreak of Covid-19 is disrupting seafood trade flowsRead more, It is typical of changing routines due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to Tomohiro Asakawa, president at TA Pacific Co, an international seafood trade consulting and brokering firm, it is impacting prices for Japan's signature seafood: tuna., Tuna prices in Japan have fallen by 10-30% below prices this time last year as a result of the pandemic, he reckons. Although retail sales of tuna sushi and sashimi sold for home cooking are strong, he said, sales of high-end bluefin and bigeye tuna to upmarket restaurants have stalled., ...