In the eastern part of Funka Bay in Hokkaido, the landing of scallops, a special product, began on the 9th.
This season, the start of the season was delayed due to the effects of voluntary restrictions on shellfish poisoning, and fishermen expressed their relief.
In the eastern part of Funka Bay, paralytic shellfish poison exceeding the national regulation value was detected from scallops in June this year, and surrounding fisheries cooperatives have voluntarily restricted shipments other than for processing.
Due to the effects of this shellfish poison, the start of the catch of this season was delayed, but by the 8th, it was confirmed that the regulation value was below the regulation value for 3 consecutive weeks, so the regulation was lifted on the 9th. Unloading has begun at Nosakimori Fishing Port.
At the harbor, after returning from offshore fishing boats lifted baskets of scallops one after another with cranes and lowered them onto the quay, sorting was carried out.
The Muroran Fishery Cooperative mainly ships to South Korea, but large scallops called “three-year shellfish” are also traded locally.
Mr. Shigeki Muromura, a fisherman, said, "I thought it would be a big problem if shellfish poison restrictions continued, so I'm glad that the catch has started."
Self-restriction lifted Why was it delayed until December?
According to the road, voluntary restrictions on shipments of scallops due to paralytic shellfish poisoning in the eastern part of Funka Bay are usually lifted by November, and this is the first time in 31 years since 1991 that they have been delayed until December. That's what it means.
Regarding the reason for this, Akira Miyazono, Project Chief Researcher at Hokkaido Research Institute's Fisheries Research Division, who is familiar with the ecology of plankton, said, "On the Pacific coast of Hokkaido, plankton, which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning, has increased the most in recent years, and in July The scallops ate a lot of plankton and accumulated a lot of toxins, which made it difficult for them to come out.”
He then explained, "I believe there was a factor in the environmental conditions along the coast of Hokkaido that was suitable for the increase in plankton, but what it was has not yet been identified."
On the other hand, he said that from spring to spring, when fish catches will be abundant, ``the plankton that causes shellfish poisoning will disappear from the water, so it is unlikely that the level of shellfish poison will rise again.''