Herring roe prices in Japan are likely to break all records this year

The sharp decline is primarily due to quota cuts in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a key fishing area. Spring fishing was banned this year due to depleted herring stocks, and fall spawning quotas were also significantly reduced. While the exact cause of the resource depletion remains unclear, rising sea temperatures associated with global warming are thought to be a factor. The total herring catch in the northern Gulf was less than 5,000 tonnes, yielding about 200 tonnes of herring roe, or kazunoko, at a 5% recovery rate. In the southern fishing areas, fishermen left 2,500 tonnes of the 10,000 tonne quota in the water, yielding about 370 tonnes of kazunoko. Some of the herring were reportedly diverted to be processed into smoked products in Quebec, further reducing the caviar yield. Given these factors, actual production could be below 600 tonnes. As in previous years, price negotiations are expected to last until the end of December. The production cuts are driving up costs, and the ...