Environment

Giant Bluefin Tuna Sells for Over $175,000 in Tokyo

by Amy Judd | January 5, 2010 at 01:54 pm

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A giant Bluefin Tuna, the largest on sale at the Tsukiji market since 2001, sells for over $175,000 US, or 111,000 British pounds, or 16.3 million yen. The 233kg (513lb) fish was sold at the wholesale fish market in Tokyo after being caught off the coast of Japan. A photo of tuna at the fish market.

The giant Bluefin Tuna was bought by two Japanese sushi restaurants and they plan to split the fish and share it. Japan is the largest consumer of Atlantic and Pacific Bluefins as they eat 80% of the fish caught.

Tuna consumption is down however due to the recession and the fact that people can't afford to eat out like they once used to.

"Consumers are shying away from eating tuna ... We are very worried about the trend," the market representative said.

There may also be tighter laws on fishing brough in to effect soon as the tuna stocks decline. The quota for 2010 is already one third of what is usually allowed.