Bluefin tuna sells for record $1.76 million in Tokyo

[dixiegrrrrl]

Excerpts:

The price works out to a stunning 700,000 yen per kilogram, or $3,603 per pound.

The best slices of fatty Bluefin--called “o-toro'' here--can sell for 2,000 yen ($24) per piece at tony Tokyo sushi bars.

Japanese eat 80 percent of the Atlantic and Pacific Bluefin tuna caught, and much of the species caught worldwide is shipped to Japan for consumption. A 2010 stock assessment of the Pacific Bluefin indicated a declining population.

Stocks of bluefin caught in the Atlantic and Mediterranean plunged by 60 percent between 1997 and 2007 due to rampant, often illegal, overfishing and lax quotas. Although there has been some improvement in recent years, experts say the outlook for the species is still fragile.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201301050019

[Systematic Chaos]

1. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

[phantom power]

2. I hope that was some delicious motherfucking tuna

I love me some bluefin tune, but what on earth warrants $3600/lb?

[stuntcat]

3. The price will go up, til the species is gone.

shame shame.

I know more people who seeing this news would run out and get some bluefish tuna! than people who are worried by our species wiping others out.

[mike_c]

6. although bluefin IS overfished, this sale had little to do with scarcity and much to do with PR....

Kimura also set the old record of 56.4 million yen at last year's New Year's auction, which tends to attract high bids as a celebratory way to kick off the new year--or get some publicity. The high prices don't necessarily reflect exceptionally high fish quality.

[Separation]

4. Get it while you can

These are going the way of the dodo.

[gordianot]

5. Whale meat goes for $200.00 per kilogram and estimates are 3/4 goes unsold. n/ t