Japanese flying squid catches have fallen to historic lows, causing wholesale prices to surge and forcing sushi shops to raise consumer prices [1].
This decline threatens the availability of a traditional staple known as a "taste of the common people" and signals a broader ecological crisis in the Sea of Japan. The scarcity affects everything from small-scale vendors to the national seafood supply chain.
Recent data shows that the annual catch for the species has plummeted to approximately 20,000 tons [1]. This represents a massive decline from the year 2000, when catches were recorded at approximately 330,000 tons [1]. Industry experts and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the price spikes are due to this long-term downward trend in supply.
In Tokyo, the impact is being felt directly at the counter. Shigeyuki Hayatsu, president of Edoya Sushi Hachi in Asagaya, said the catch has been decreasing every year for more than 10 years. He said that while there used to be 10 items lined up, there are now often only three [2]. Because wholesale costs have increased approximately fourfold, his shop raised the price of squid sashimi by 100 yen [1].
Market volatility has reached extreme levels in some regions. In Hakodate, some first-auction prices for the squid have exceeded 10,000 yen per kilogram [3].
Despite these reports of scarcity, some media outlets have conversely reported a rare abundance of the species, creating a contradiction in current market data [4]. However, official predictions for the number of squid visiting the Sea of Japan side of the country remain at the lowest levels ever recorded [1].
Hayatsu said it is very disappointing that the "taste of the common people" is disappearing [2]. The trend appears to be extending to other species, with reports that Pacific saury are also facing poor catches [1].
““The catch has been decreasing every year for more than 10 years.””
The collapse of the Japanese flying squid population reflects a systemic failure in regional fisheries that may be linked to climate change or overfishing. When a primary protein source for the general public becomes a luxury item—evidenced by 10,000 yen per kilogram prices—it indicates that the species is no longer a sustainable commercial resource. The contradiction in reporting between official scarcity and some media claims of abundance suggests a highly fragmented market where small local pockets of catch do not reflect the national ecological decline.
