Economic factors effecting salmon fisheries in Japan
2005
Shimizu, I.(National Salmon Resources Center, Sapporo (Japan))
Salmon fisheries in Japan are facing a serious crisis and are being pressed to enact structural reforms. Though there has been a decline in high seas salmon fisheries, the total amount of salmon catches has increased year after year with a success of salmon enhancement. Salmon markets in Japan have consequently been globalized, and the price of domestic salmon in wholesale markets has dropped. In this paper, I described the fluctuation of salmon prices in the landing markets in Hokkaido in order to make clear the factors of price change, from both the short-term and long-term standpoints. Factors regarding the price formation of salmon in the wholesale market in Japan were analyzed by the econometric method. The wholesale price of fresh salmon fell when the inventory of frozen salmon or imported fresh salmon increased, and also the prices of fresh salmon have dropped when the inventory of salted salmon roe and fresh salmon increased in recent years. Since there was an increase in the amount of imported fresh salmon produced by salmon aquaculture in winter, there was an increase in the inventory of fresh salmon. In order to reduce inventory and stabilize the wholesale price, it is necessary to expand the market for domestic salmon by maintaining its freshness, developing new processed food, and ensuring its safety. Furthermore, analysis of the trend of consumers' tastes for salmon and a grasp of consumers needs will be important for the supply side, such as Fishermen's Cooperatives and related organizations engaged in enhancement of salmon resources.
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